Editor,
The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, Mr. Krishan Pal Gurjar, as reported in your newspaper on the 9th October, stated there were 2.68 crore Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)in the Country. This figure was made available by the Ministry in its letter No. 5-01/2013-DDIII of 20.03.2015. The Minister did not mention that his Ministry had allocated only Rs 66 crore for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Disabled as per its letter No. 22-23(05)/2012-DD11/V of 12 June 2015 for the year 2015-16. By simple Arithmetic the Ministry offered only Rs 24.62 per Person with Disabilities for his/her Education. And for the entire Disabled population of Meghalaya the money allotted is only Rs 31 lakh. Dwar Jingkyrmen’s expenditure in 2014-15 was Rs 27 lakhs and there are eight other Centres for Education of the Disabled in Meghalaya. As per the Funding Scheme (DDRS) the Ministry is to offer 90% of the financial requirement but where is the allocation, Mr. Minister?
Yours etc
Sajjad M Ali,
Via email
Stop urinating on the streets!
Editor,
What’s with men? They may be potty trained at home, but when it comes to public spaces men seem to go with the flow, without even looking for a toilet. Is it the lack of public convenience or just the, ‘I don’t care a damn attitude?’Just yesterday while walking back home from college, I happened to see a man urinating right ‘outside’ a public toilet. It struck me as a kind of repellent freedom. Irrespective of the fact that women, girls and children were passing by, what gives them the right? Just because they are men! It is not about toilets; it is about a lack of civic sense.
Gandhi, who is still a symbol of constructive change in India, wrote in 1925 issue of his weekly newspaper ‘Navajivan’, “To pass urine anywhere on a street, at any place not meant for the purpose, should be regarded as an offence.” I wouldn’t go so far to say that it represents a male colonisation of public space and that you’re all marking your territory like Randy Tomcats, but women live here too! There are many other reasons that this behaviour is a problem. It smells gross! Shopkeepers who are set next to popular spots find their business declining as odour waxes. The high context of ammonia and acid in urine damages paint, wears away at stone and kills any enterprising plant life that may be trying to survive. But perhaps, more important are the social ramifications for the exposure of male genitals in public spaces.
Even after the warning signs, availability of public toilets and tiles with the images of various deities stuck or painted on the walls of the street nothing seems to deter them- men will just turn to a wall and go! It’s high time to stop this ritual. To all those men who think letting out in public is not a big deal: You are not desperate toddlers; you are adults. Please act like one.
Yours etc.,
Damini Thapa,
Via email
Maintain safety of tourist spots
Editor,
After ten years I recently visited Cherrapunji and noticed that before reaching the Cherra bridge the road is very badly exposed with stones and gravel and no black topping visible. This could easily lead to flat tyres or some other kind of accident. When we reached the famous Cherra falls, we found the stairs broken down. A senior citizen , or a child could easily slip may slip and fall down the gorge. Several people were taking pictures at that spot. If anyone slips and falls, the person could lose his life. Some tourist guards should be posted at these tourist spots as some people under the influence of alcohol could well slip and fall since the protective railings at the viewpoint are al missing. Tourists don’t mind paying entry fees and people come to visit this place from every part of the world. It’s a shame to see such dilapidated and ill-maintained tourist spots which indicate that the Tourism Department does not care about the views that tourists carry back with them. Also the local people of Cherrapunjee don’t seem to have a stake in keeping their tourist spots clean, well maintained and safe.
Yours etc.,
Vikash Kumar,
Via email