There was a time when the Fruit Preservation centre of the Assam Small Industries Development Corporation, popularly known as ‘KANCH Factory’ situated near Jatinga was the central attraction for most the visiting officials and tourists but now it has become a no body’s business. To its utter dismay, this factory is made totally defunct due to indifferent attitude of the authority concern. The existing staffs, who are still hopeful for the reopening of the factory but to face starvation soon as they are not paid their monthly salary for twenty eight months now.
Depending on the abundant orange and pine apple production, The Assam Hills Small Industries Development Corporation had established a fruit preservation centre at Bora Haflong, 4 km from Haflong town with the product name ‘KANCH ’which had received ‘Gold Medal’ for the excellent production. During that period ‘KANCH’ factory was the most favorite place for the high officials and also the tourists. Meanwhile the orange production also came down drastically. Thus the economic condition of the villagers came down alarmingly as they were solely dependent on horticulture. Again in the year 1998,devastating flood washed away at least seven horticulture garden of Jatinga for which the villagers did not get any financial assistance informed O. Pachuan, former member of the N.C.Hills Autonomous Council, and said the ‘Plights of Jatinga people have not been addressed even after repeated approaches.
Despite all odds and acute financial constrains, The Jatinga village of N.C.Hills, world famous for the bird phenomena is being prepared to celebrate its centenary from November this year on completion of hundred years of its existence.
Jatinga, which requires no introduction for its sweet and tasty oranges, bird phenomena and above all the hospitality of the villagers have been the cynosure to the nature lovers of the state as well as of abroad, but has unfortunately failed to be blessed with the seeds of development.
The story of Jatinga goes back to the year 1902, when the founder father U Lakhan Bang Suchiang of Guna para village near Borkhola came in contact with some Khasi laborers working on the construction of new railway line in between Badarpur and Lumding. They used to visit Borkhola market, then a prosperous foothill market where the tribals like Nagas, Kacharis,Kukis etc. frequently came down to purchase agricultural equipments.
During such a meeting, Lakahn Bang was told about the vast virgin forest near Haflong. Lakhan was in search for a place to cultivate Paan vines as the vines at Gunapara were fast dying due to an unknown disease. In the year 1901, Lakhan Bang decided to pay visit to BoroHaflong.
At first Lakhan Bang was refused the permission from the SDO, Haflong but was advised to teach the Nagas, the method of Paan cultivation. As there were none in the village except two families who decided to take it up. Then he planted 1000 saplings for them and for him in a trial basis. But after one year, seeing the encouraging growth and after being requested by the Nagas, he repeatedly approached the SDO, Haflong who ultimately in the year 1905 accorded the permission to Lakhan Bang to settle and to plant Paan vines at Jatinga .Thus the year 1905 is being considered as the year of establishment of the Jatinga village.
The name Jatinga, is derived from the Naga language (as it is told by the villagers)which means path way of rain and wind, it is true that Jatinga is situated on the path way of rain and wind. The village was first established at a place located near a small stream flowing between present Jatinga Tiniali and Dolong river. As the place was not healthy,the village was then shifted to present place in the year 1910, In the year 1914, Lakhan Bang obtained another permission to plant oranges. Jatinga flourished alongwith the increase in orange production.
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Late H. Rupsi, retired Principal, Govt. Boys’ H.S. School, Haflong who was also the Gaon Bura of Jatinga for the last 20 years sharing his past glorious memories of Jatinga with this correspondent, used to say ‘Jatinga did not get that much attention which was needed to. Jatinga people are hard working, honest and above all self-reliant. But with the decline in orange production, the difficulties of Jatinga people mounted up alarmingly. Once an official of World Health Organization(WHO) of
Once one M.Suchiang of Jatinga was very much enthusiastic to lease out his land to the Tourism department in exchange of his daughter’s service in the tourism department but nothing has been done so far till the date. People also say that some other things were established in the name of tourism at Jatinga long back but lack of attentiveness and willingness of the authority concerned all remained in the pages of the past history. Recently, there has been news of tourism promotion at Jatinga by the district administration, N.C.Hills to increase job opportunities for the Jatinga people but the people of Jatinga are not aware of such schemes , informed the Gaon Bura, K.Suchiang. Talking to this correspondent Suchiang sad that regarding the new schemes no discussion had been held with him or his villagers. Answering few questions of the correspondent he admitted that if any schemes were to be taken in Jatinga area, then he or his villagers should also be informed, what was not done in this case. He said instead of imposing any new schemes on Jatinga, the economic upliftment of the people should be taken into consideration first.And above all the schemes should also be people oriented but not officer oriented. The people of Jatinga are not ready to be fooled again and again with some impractical promises. Some other say that now a day it has become a fashion for some officials to take undue advantages in the name of Jatinga. It is also said that whenever any VIPs or any other dignitaries come Haflong they are taken to Jatinga but without considering the villagers to be informed or so. There fore the GB said that the people of Jatinga who were hard working to be consulted first and suggested that small tea garden might be the ultimate solution to the people of Jatinga who are born horticulturists, and if the Government encourages the tea plantation in Jatinga, it could be the boon to the people of Jatinga.
