EAST KHASI HILLS     

            East Khasi Hills District is one of the oldest districts in the State which was bifurcated from the erstwhile United Khasi and Jaintia Hills after the creation of Meghalaya. It covers an area of about 2,748 Sq.Kms. with a population of 6, 60,994. Shillong is the district headquarters and State Capital. Apart from the Shillong Sadar Civil Sub-division, Sohra is another Sub-division.

            The majority of the inhabitants belong to the Khasi tribe although Shillong City has a cosmopolitan population. Besides being the seat of State administration since the time of British rule, Shillong has a number of private and Central establishments including Banks, Army Cantonment Air Force station, NEC Secretariat and the North Eastern Hill University Campus (NEHU). It has been and still is an important centre of education in the North Eastern India.

            The main occupation of the people of East Khasi Hills is agriculture, although a few small scale and medium scale industries have recently come up. The Government owned Cement Factory at Mawmluh near Sohra, stone and sand quarrying, coal and lime stone mining give other limited occupations. The popular festivals of the Khasis we “Shad Suk Mynsiem” (dance of joyful heart), observed in March or April. and Nongkrem Dance, a religious festival, observed at Smit in October or November. In the dances, both men and women are allowed to take part.

            The district is renowned for its numerous historical and tourist spots especially Mawsynram which has the heaviest rainfall in the world. In Shillong city and its suburbs there are important tourist spots like the Wards lake, a park which was built during 1893 - ‘94 by the former British Chief Commissioner Sir William Ward (KCSI), Lady Hydari Park Cum Mini Zoo, the popular Golf Course, Bishop, Beadon, Spread Eagle, Elephant, Crinoline and Sweet Falls spread around the city.

            At Sohra and nearby areas, there are the Mawsmai caves, Nohgsngithiang. Nohkalikai and Khohramhah Falls , Kynrem Falls on the way to Shella and Dainthlen Falls near Mawsahew village. Its natural landscape also offers ample scope for sight seeing and trekking like the Shillong Peak in Shillong. At Mawphlang, a sacred grove is still being preserved where a variety of orchids and other natural vegetation are found. At Mawsynram, two breast shaped stones are found in Mawjymbuin cave, which is also considered sacred by non-tribals.

            The East Khasi Hills District Executive Force has a sanctioned strength of 1154 U.B. and 1042 A.B. under the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills D.E.F. have 12 (twelve) Police Stations, 4(four) Beat Houses and 10 (ten) Out Posts.

            East Khasi Hills D.E.F. have a Unit Hospital , L.P. School , Multi Gym and a Welfare Centre which caters several welfare measures of the Police families.