Browsing by Author "Pal, Ajita"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Rural Research Project: Mawngap
    (MICA, 2015) Pal, Ajita; Sheikh, Banafsha; Hajela, Eshita; Batra, Gunjan
    Mawngap is located between Shillong and another village. It’s more like that village that comes when one is driving to and from Shillong. Because of such a location of the village, people from the village and nearby areas often come with fruits, vegetables and eatables and sell it all by the main connecting road. The climate of Mawngap doesn’t support a lot of vegetation, considering the high temperatures during summers and the incessant rains. The soils of Mawngap aren’t suitable for a lot of crops too which add to the woes of the villagers when it comes to agriculture. The story behind such high levels of alcoholics traces back to an age old custom that’s prevalent in the village of Mawngap. In Mawngap, the concept of love marriages is encouraged. Majority of the young men and women fall in love in ages as young as 14 or so. And since they aren’t checked and stopped by anyone, rather cheered, they end up marrying young. Once they are married, the boys drop out of their schools to support the family. Their being uneducated or limitedly educated acts as a deterrent when it comes to getting the right kinds of jobs, which in turn leads to a lot of frustration and angst in them. All of this drives them to alcohol and they end up being addicts and alcoholics. Moreover, the alcohol that they consume is cheap and is not made/ fermented properly thereby rendering it (almost) unfit to consume. That, however, doesn’t stop the youth from consuming it. It has even proven fatal for a good number of young men. And therefore the percentage of youth population is falling in the village. Presently, it is only 18%.