Assessing The Impacts of Socio-Political Transitions: A Case Study of The Village Council System Among the Monpas in Arunachal Pradesh

This study aims to investigate the effects of societal and political changes on the Village Council System practiced by the Monpas in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The research utilizes quantitative methods to gather data on the current state of societal and political changes and their impact on the Village Council System. Specifically, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software is employed to examine the relationships and effects of these changes. The study seeks to provide insights into the dynamics and implications of societal and political transformations on the Village Council System, shedding light on the challenges and adaptations experienced by the Monpas community. The findings of this research contribute to a better understanding of the evolving governance structures in indigenous communities and inform policy-making processes. The utilization of quantitative analysis methods enhances the rigor and validity of the study’s findings, providing a comprehensive assessment of the effects of societal and political changes on the Village Council System practiced by the Monpas.


INTRODUCTION
Socio-political transitions are complicated processes that occur within communities and include major changes in the social and political structures, institutions, and practices.These transitions may be either positive or negative, depending on the circumstances.These transitions cover a broad variety of events that bring about change, including transformations in governance systems, political ideologies, social norms, economic structures, and power relations, to name a few.Internal forces, such as social movements, political turmoil, or economic inequality, as well as external influences, such as globalization, colonialism, and the transfer of ideas and technology, often serve as the impetus for these events [1].Throughout the course of history and in many parts of the globe, socio-political shifts have been seen, each of which has been accompanied by its own particular confluence of events and repercussions.These shifts might be harmonious and slow-moving, or they can be characterized by violence, revolt, and upheaval instead.[2] They have the potential to bring about the creation of new forms of government, the reorganization of power structures, shifts in cultural practices, and the reconfiguration of social identities.For a complete understanding of socio-political shifts, a multidimensional study that takes into ccount a wide variety of interrelated aspects is required.Researchers in the fields of political science, sociology, anthropology, and history have all made important contributions to the study of socio-political transitions.These scholars investigate the factors that contribute to the onset, progression, and aftermath of societal shifts [3].When conducting these types of studies, it is common practice to investigate the ways in which political institutions, social movements, economic systems, cultural values, and human agency interact with one another.It is possible for socio-political shifts to have deep and far-reaching effects not just for people but also for societies.They have the potential to bring about both good and bad developments, opening the door to possibilities for social advancement, democracy, and economic growth, while also providing obstacles and threats.These shifts have the potential to reconfigure power relations, redistribute resources, challenge pre-existing social structures, and redefine concepts of identity and belonging.
The modification of administrative structures is often cited as an essential component of sociopolitical shifts.Within every given society, the political structures and institutions that are in place play a significant part in determining how power is distributed, how decisions are made, and how laws and regulations are carried out [4].It is possible that during times of transition, new systems of governance may come into existence.Some examples of these include the development of democratic systems, the implementation of authoritarian regimes, or the modification of traditional indigenous customs.Transitions in society and politics are not one-off occurrences but rather continual processes that might take place over lengthy amounts of time.They need diverse social and political players to negotiate with one another, compete with one another, and compromise with one another.It is possible for these players to include political leaders, civil society groups, grassroots movements, academics, and international actors.All of these actors contribute to determining the direction and consequences of the shift that is taking place [5].It is essential to keep in mind that the effects of societal and political shifts do not have the same effect on different persons or different civilizations.The social, economic, and political standing of a group within a community may have a significant impact on how they perceive and respond to the changes occurring within that society.For instance, marginalized populations would have to deal with unique difficulties and vulnerabilities during transitions, whilst dominant groups could be able to gain from the shifting power relations.

Background of Monpos
The Monpas are descended from Mongoloid people.Despite the fact that they originated in Tibet, they are very similar to the people of Bhutan in terms of their traditions, language, agricultural activities, and approaches to the construction of homes.The word Shar Mon Yul, which is used by Tibetans to refer to a territory that includes Bhutan, eastern Nepal, north Bengal, Sikkim, and west Kameng and Tawang, literally translates to "the Land of Monpas."The term Shar refers to the east, Mon refers to people who live in the cis-Himalayan region, and Yul refers to the nation.The Dirang administrative region, the northern part of Bomdila, the south-western portion of the West Kameng district, and the whole of the Tawang district are all places that the Monpa people call home.
In contrast to Apatanis, they do not dwell in valleys but instead choose to make their homes at low to extremely high elevations.The location of the community will be decided based on how simple it will be to get potable water and how much space would be available for farming.Because of the physical obstacles in their way, the Monpas people's socioculture and profession were based on a subsistence economy.Agriculture and animal husbandry are two of their primary occupations, and they engage in commerce with the people of Tibet, Bhutan, and Assam.The majority of Monpas residents work in the agricultural sector.They engage in terrace cultivation in both a wet and dry fashion.They do the work of plowing the field using animals.During the height of the farming season, they participate in a traditional system known as lakpar, in which friends and family lend a helping hand to one another.
Monpas doesn't differentiate between a man's or woman's labor.However, in most cases, jobs that demand a greater amount of physical strength, such as cutting down trees or plowing fields, are carried out by males.Women, on the other hand, are responsible for the spinning and weaving of cloth, and they also participate in farming by planting seeds.

Impacts of socio-political transitions on Monpa's village council system
The Monpas are one of the most populous ethnic groups in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is located in the far northeast of the country.The Monpas have preserved a distinctive cultural legacy and have followed a one-of-a-kind way of life for a number of centuries.The village council system, also known as " Mangmazomba " in the local language, is an essential component of Monpa identity.Mangmazomba is a village council that represents the Monpas, an indigenous community residing in certain regions of Arunachal Pradesh, India.The Monpas have a rich cultural heritage and are known for their unique traditions, customs, and practices.The Mangmazomba village council serves as a governing body, responsible for managing and addressing various local affairs within the Monpa community.The council plays a vital role in maintaining social harmony, resolving disputes, and promoting the overall welfare of the village residents.It acts as a platform for collective decision-making and ensures the participation of community members in matters affecting their daily lives.
Additionally, the Mangmazomba village council works towards preserving and promoting Monpa culture, language, and traditional knowledge.It plays a significant role in preserving the indigenous identity of the Monpas and fostering cultural exchanges within the community.Overall, the Mangmazomba village council holds a crucial position in the Monpa society, acting as a representative body that safeguards the interests of the community, fosters development, and preserves their unique cultural heritage.
In recent years, the Monpa village council system has been going through a considerable transformation as a response to shifting contexts, both internal and external.This is due to the fact that the circumstances have been changing.For instance, the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution was enacted in 1992, and following panchayat and local government laws have had an effect on the power structures and practices of the Monpas.This modification, which was aimed to improve local selfgovernance, has had substantial repercussions, particularly in remote areas such as those found in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effects that such sociopolitical shifts have had on the structure of the Monpa village council and to investigate the ways in which the community has been impacted by the alterations.In order to do this, the article investigates the pretransition and post-transition environments, their practical and symbolic consequences, and the resulting repercussions on the governance, decision-making, and collective life of the Monpas.Specifically, the study focuses on the Monpas.
This article uses quantitative methods to get a better grasp of the issue in order to present a comprehensive study of the socio-political shifts that the Monpas are currently experiencing.In order to assess the changes in terms of the numerical data, quantitative approaches such as surveys were also used.These were utilized to compare activities that occurred before and after the transition in order to quantify the changes that took place in power relations, governance, and the decision-making processes.The original setting of the Monpa village council system and the subsequent move to a more formal structure is investigated at the beginning of the article.The primary conclusions drawn from the articles indicate that the environment of the post-transition system has resulted in a significant adjustment to the organization of power and decision-making in a variety of settings.This is because of the establishment of panchayati raj and the regulatory procedures that are associated with it, in addition to the growing external effects on the political functioning of the village councils.As a consequence of this, the traditional power of the village councils has been severely diminished, which has led to a reduction in their ability for collective decision-making and diminished quality of life.The potential social and economic advantages of such adjustments have been identified, and the article describes the beneficial consequences that have been seen as a result of these changes.Among them include a higher conformity with national law, a lessening of social inequality, and an increase in access to the resources and services provided by the government.Nevertheless, in spite of this encouraging turn of events, there is still reason for worry, and there is an immediate need to conduct an analysis of both the advantages and the difficulties associated with the socio-political shift.This article provides a perspective on the relevance of socio-political developments and their effects on the Monpa village council system locally.The Monpas are the subject of this article; nevertheless, the facts and debates that are offered in this essay may also be relevant to other political systems and circumstances that are analogous to the Monpas.As a result, this article makes a significant contribution toward better comprehending the effects of socio-political shifts in settings that are mostly rural.

Aim of the Study
The focus of this study is on how recent political and social shifts have affected the Village Council System used by the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh, India.Researching the village council system and the adaptations and solutions the Monpas have used to successfully traverse these transformations is important for understanding its historical context, cultural significance, and contemporary issues.Insights into the mechanisms of socio-political change, the resiliency of traditional governance institutions, and the ramifications for the Monpas community are the goals of this research.The purpose of this project is to contribute to a greater knowledge of indigenous governance, influence policy-making processes, and support the preservation of cultural variety and inclusive development methods.This will be accomplished via the documentation and analysis of these effects.

Objectives
1. To identify the influence of political transitions on the democratic governance.2. To understand the impact of socio-political transitions on the village council system among the Monpas in Arunachal Pradesh.3. To analyse the influence of socio-political transitions on Protection security of the Monpas in Arunachal Pradesh's Village Council System.

Hypothesis H1:
Political transitions will positively influence democratic governance in Arunachal Pradesh.H2: Socio-political transitions will have a positive impact on the village council system among the Monpas in Arunachal Pradesh.H3: Socio-political transitions will significantly improve the Protection security of the Monpas in Arunachal Pradesh's Village Council System.

LITERATURE REVIEW
[6] There are 26 tribes, and three of them, the Monpa, Adi, and Apatani, are well known for their unusual lifestyles, which have led to a sustainable built environment and spatial planning.Through the use of their instance, the article will examine and evaluate the architectural pattern in these tribes.The research is an endeavour to comprehend the link between these tribes' geographic location and architectural style using a variety of variables.[7] In the transnational Himalaya, comprising the People's Republic of China (PRC), Nepal, India, and Bhutan, this chapter explores the politics of the Tibetan language.
[8] A new social-environmental connection is being formed in this context through interactions between multiple forces, resistance, and negotiation.In this paper, the author explored the power dynamics among and within different stakeholder groups, such as developers, environmentalists, and religious institutions, and how these groups use narratives of change to assert their control over resources, plans for development, and conservationist philosophies.To illustrate this point, I use the case study of the Nyamjang hydropower project and the local Monpa population (the biggest ethnic group in the region) as my focal point.[9] In this study, an effort has been made to place Arunachal Pradesh in its own historical, geographical, and political context while keeping in mind India's integrationist paranoia and victory in the northeaster boundaries.

METHODOLOGY
The primary goal of this research is to examine how recent political and social shifts have affected the Village Council System used by the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh, India.In this study, quantitative methods are utilized to obtain the data regarding current information of societal and political changes on the Village Council System.To examine the impact of societal and political changes on the Village Council System, we used the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using the AMOS.

Research Design
This study's research design consists of a series of methods and strategies developed to logically integrate numerous research components in order to appropriately answer the research subject that has been carried out so far.The purpose of this section is to describe the research procedures that were followed.The research design determines how data analysis, data collection, and research are carried out.

Sampling Technique
For this study, we have considered 270 respondents and also prepared the appropriate questions for their survey and responses collected from respondents with full questionnaire saved for future research.Information for this research was gathered using a self-designed structured questionnaire and a random sample technique.

Random Sampling
A technique for gathering samples from a population known as random sampling ensures that every prospective participant has an equal probability of being chosen.In many cases, a representative sample may be generated by drawing from a random pool.Random sampling is a simple technique for collecting data from a large population.The rule of thumb for random sampling is that if a sample is chosen just once, In this situation, P represents a probability, n represents the size of the sample, and N represents the whole population.Now, we know that P = n/N if we subtract 1 from 1-(N-n/n).It is also important to allow for repeated sample selections:

Data Collection
This study's data were gathered using a mix of primary research, questionnaires, and interviews.Interviews and surveys were conducted to collect data on the current information of societal and political changes on the Village Council System

Tools for data collection
The researcher in the current study made use of the following data gathering instruments:

Interview schedule
Data gathering on the ground was done using the Interview Schedule tool (primary data).Using the structured interview technique, it is the pre-draft questions were asked.

Inclusion Criterion
• Community members who have awareness on societal and political changes on the Village Council System irrespective of their personal details were willing to participate in the research.

Exclusion Criterion
• Community members who were not willing to participate in the study and those who were not available at the place during the period of data collection.

Data Analysis
After collecting data using a random sample technique, structural equation modelling is used to determine the effect of several factors.Below, we have provided a basic overview of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).

Structural Equation Modelling
Structural equation modelling (SEM) is a multivariate, hypothesis-driven approach built on top of a structural model that provides a hypothesis about the interactions between numerous variables.The hypothesised causal relationships are based on connections between the regions that are physiologically plausible, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is utilised to measure blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) time series of y1…yn various brain locations.A so-called route coefficient, analogous to a partial regression coefficient, characterises the significance of each connection by detailing the degree to which the variance of yi depends on the variance of yj, assuming that all other effects on yj remain same.The letters ij yy → The equation provides a summary of the conventional SEM statistical model.y=Ay+u where y is an ns  matrix of n area-specific time series with s samples each and u is an ns  matrix of zero mean Gaussian error components driving the simulated system ("innovations"; see equation).A is an nn  by-n matrix of route coefficients with zeros for nonexistent connections.Estimating parameters is possible by minimising the difference between the observed and model covariance matrices. .By translating equation,  may be calculated for any given combination of parameters.
Remember to act in a manner consistent with the identity matrix.The first line of the equation offers a generative model for how the system's connectional structure leads to system function: The interregional connection matrix function is used to produce the observed time series y using the Gaussian innovations u.

RESULT & ANALYSIS
To examine the impact of societal and political changes on political transitions, democratic governance, village council system, protection security, we used the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using the AMOS.Following is the graphical representation of structural model, followed by results.When compared to the thresholds of 0.90 and 0.95, the sample data were well represented (χ 2 = 516.094,NFI (Normed Fit Index) =0.925, IFI (Incremental Fit Index) =0.946, GFI (Goodness of Fit) =0.957, RFI (Relative Fit Index) =0.936, and CFI (Comparative Fit Index) =0.916.Root mean square residuals (RMR) = 0.06 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.016 both fall below the minimum acceptable value of 0.080.The given model matched the data well, as measured by an RMSEA of 0.07%, an RMR of 0.06%, a GFI of 0.957, and a CFI of 0.916.

CONCLUSION
In this study, we investigated the effects of societal and political changes on the Village Council System practiced by the Monpas in Arunachal Pradesh.Utilizing quantitative methods and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with AMOS, we analysed the relationships and effects of these changes.The findings provided valuable insights into the dynamics and implications of societal and political transformations on the Village Council System and shed light on the challenges and adaptations experienced by the Monpas community.The results of the path analysis revealed significant positive associations between political transitions and democratic governance, as well as between socio-political transitions and the village council system.Moreover, socio-political transitions were found to have a positive and significant impact on protection security.These findings support the notion that societal and political changes have a direct influence on the functioning and effectiveness of governance structures, emphasizing the importance of understanding and managing these transitions.
Overall, this research aids in our comprehension of how modern social and political shifts have impacted traditional forms of indigenous leadership.The findings have implications for policymaking processes and the preservation of cultural diversity and inclusive development approaches.By documenting and analysing the impacts of these changes, this research provides valuable insights that can inform decision-making and contribute to the sustainable development of indigenous communities.

Figure 1
Figure 1 Structural Equation Model

001 Protection Security <---Socio-Political Transitions
Hypotheses resulting based on path analysis shows that Political Transitions is positively and significantly associated with Democratic governance (β=.203,P<.05) and Socio-Political Transitions is also positively and significantly associated with Village Council System (β= .670,P<.05).And Socio-Political Transitions is positively and significantly associated with Protection Security (β=.756,P<.05).