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  Social Setup > Jirga > Types  
Mass Meeting (Kule Jirga)

This is Jirga or Council of all the people in the valley. It is locally held by the economic collusion of the groups of Darma and Khuka Manka. This Jirga holds the highest power and collective action is taken on its decisions. This Jirga is generally called to manage the local common resources or to settle matters with the government.

It is not easy to hold this Jirga, because due to the internal rifts between the tribes there is no guarantee of the majority opinion. However, during economic risks and at the time of local interests it becomes possible to hold one quickly since this Jirga has the authority to deal with important matters such as the local defence, utilization and distribution of collective resources and disputes.

Since this Jirga takes place on the basis of the local and economic unity of two groups and since each group has two further sub-groups and then four clans in each sub group, it is tough and problematic to reach a decision regarding regional matters. The clans or tribes use their right of veto in case of any disagreement. No one has a right to use power in case of disagreement to a decision in the public Jirga. Therefore, in case of any disagreement by a clan, the decision remains ineffective and it is not possible to implement it. Its holding and decision making can be effective only if all clans participate in it. For the sake of implementation on decisions and check and balance, the Jirgas of a higher level appoint "Zetus", who are responsible for action on collective decisions.


 
     
      Jirga of Qom and Qaim  
     
These Jirgas have assigned powers and resources. For instance, in Kuz Palas the Khuka Manka and Darma are two opposing tribes. But in Bar Palas only the Darma group has the traditional right of decision making regarding the matters of Daro and the internal distribution and utilization of resources (except of the Khuka-Munka from Gadar and Kunsher. This Jirga has the backing and support of the participating tribes, sub-tribes, clans and castes with whose consensus and participation this Jirga is formed. At some places, the forests and "bandos" are commonly owned by such Jirgas. Back to Top
 
      Jirga of Clan (Tabin)  
     

In Kolai, Palas and Jalkot, several clans exist and the castes constituting the Tabins form this Jirga on local, economic and lineage bases. Although, a clan's Jirga is lower by two or three levels than a Public Jirga (Kule Jirga), it has more powers because in multi-group central system, they have veto power. A few Yashkun and Kamin castes are also included and economically they are identified with the Shin clans while their lineage remains Yashkun and Kamin.

Every clan is autonomous in its matters, from an economic point of view. The distributed forests, land under "Bandos" and the common land under trees, land of "Ser" and water mills, etc. are owned by them. This Jirga is responsible to ensure and entrust defence or provide warriors to its upper groups and tribes at the time of need or settle its matters with the opposition. The castes or "khels" included in the clans are relatively more. Since there are seven to ten castes found in a clan, two sub-groups are setup within the clan. They are generally called "Tal". These groups are formed to make the distribution of resources easier, maintain a balance among them and keep the members organized and dynamic. The members of clans are loyal to their clans and they defend their members even if they are opponents. Therefore these people are distributed over the area, but their economic dependence stays with just one "Rom" from which they can benefit.Back to Top

 
      Caste (Khel) Meeting  
In the past these people would use the term of caste to the reflect genealogy of Shin, Yashkun and Kamin. The people of the same caste help each other in case of enmity, but now this trend is receding because the external pressure on the castes and tribes is decreasing, therefore reducing their interdependence. The impact of this is that the internal rifts are increasing, so among 70% of castes, large or small disputes are appearing due to which they are avoiding to provide armed help to each other. The penetration of the government system is also another reason for its decline, influencing change in their interdependence.

In it also there are the lower groups which are called "Tal" and "Miras". "Miras" are formed by households. In other words, with the Shin tribes, the process of setting up the institution of Jirga goes bottom up, where the lower circle or household and the upper circle is of the Jirga restricted to the level of the valley. The elements that make a traditional Shin organization, are racial (nasbi), economic, regional, social and cultural, linguistic and religious.Back to Top

The informal Jirga
In the past these people would use the term of caste to the reflect genealogy of Shin, Yashkun and Kamin. The people of the same caste help each other in case of enmity, but now this trend is receding because the external pressure on the castes and tribes is decreasing, therefore reducing their interdependence. The impact of this is that the internal rifts are increasing, so among 70% of castes, large or small disputes are appearing due to which they are avoiding to provide armed help to each other. The penetration of the government system is also another reason for its decline, influencing change in their interdependence.

In it also there are the lower groups which are called "Tal" and "Miras". "Miras" are formed by households. In other words, with the Shin tribes, the process of setting up the institution of Jirga goes bottom up, where the lower circle or household and the upper circle is of the Jirga restricted to the level of the valley. The elements that make a traditional Shin organization, are racial (nasbi), economic, regional, social and cultural, linguistic and religious.Back to Top