Editor,
The call for change of guards in NEIGRIHMS is no doubt most welcome but that is not going to remove the malaise and stents of this important health institute. What is important now is to have a high level independent thorough probe into the goings on in this hospital. The probe has to be incisive and should cover all aspects of the Institute’s functioning beginning at the top and going right to the bottom. Indeed the Institute requires thorough revamping in all aspects which of course includes effective administration and proper functioning of all the Departments. The problem plaguing the Institute comes mainly from the people who run it, namely the Director and the heads of departments. It is here that the truth should be uncovered. The malaise is deep and the it is the Institute itself that is in immediate need of stents. The earlier the probe (diagnoses) the better.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via-Email.
Exit polls: winner and losers
Editor,
The exit polls conducted by leading agencies on Sunday projected that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is all set to retain power at the Centre, riding yet another ‘Narendra Modi wave.’ What could be the main deciding factor that has tilted the balance in favour of Modi? It was none other than the retaliatory attack undertaken by our army in Pakistan’s territory days after the Pulwama terror attack. Modi and his party BJP had given wide coverage and the credit for it was always claimed by Modi. During his election speeches, he spoke volumes on his brave acts of attacking Pakistan, and it won him millions of people’s support. After all, he always exhibited much optimism and high dose of confidence in dealing with problems especially international affairs, which also made him dearer to people.
For Rahul Gandhi, however, all is not lost. There is still hope as the exit polls may sometimes prove to be wrong. But even if Rahul loses this time, there is still chance for him the next time, and he can prepare and learn a lot in between before taking on the mantle of Prime Minister. For the last one month we waited patiently and two more days will pass soon enough. Let us all wait for the day with bated breath.
Yours etc.,
T K Nandanan
Kochi – 15
Tragedy of consuming mushroom
Editor,
It is profoundly heart-rending to know that on May 6 last in the remote village of Nongsynrang, West Khasi Hills district two siblings of a family died, their mother and grandfather were hospitalized and the other three relatives were taken ill with less seriousness for consuming wild mushrooms which turned out to be of poisonous strains. Undoubtedly, it is next to impossible to imagine the magnitude of the anguish suffered by the said family to have lost two young souls aged two and four respectively.
A point to be noted is that during the spells of pre-monsoon showers the hills and dales of Meghalaya run riot with the sprouting of wild mushrooms of varied hues and colours prompting the village folks to come out in hordes to collect mushrooms either for self-consumption or for sale in local markets. More often than not it is a challenging task to pick identify edible mushrooms from poisonous ones. Here lurks the dangers of human casualty. Now, while revisiting identical events way back in April 2016 this paper had published my letter in these very columns captioned, ‘The bell also tolls for me’ (ST April, 27,2016) , wherein I had highlighted the then twin fatal incidents occurring in two villages of East Khasi Hills district at Mawsawa near Mawsynram and the other at Nongpriang not far off from Sohra respectively following consumption of wild mushrooms locally known as ‘Tit kur miaw’ where the six lives were lost due to mushroom poisoning. It was lamentable that in one of the unfortunate families, a household had lost both the parents.
I can say with a fair sense of certitude that fatalities of such extent can recur from time to time and for that matter, the village elders of Nongsynrang couldn’t have been more right in advising people to be more cautious in going for wild fruits, vegetables besides mushroom. Furthermore, the latter have also urged the Government to ensure that such calamities do not recur by way of creating mass awareness. Now, our State Govt. has an office at Upper Shillong called: Mushroom Development Centre which vigorously carries out regular awareness programmes throughout the State on the economic benefits of mushroom plantation. I can’t see why this Centre couldn’t have coordinated with officers of its own department like the Assistant Directors of Agriculture/Horticulture posted at every district/block in conducting awareness sessions on the dos and don’ts of having wild mushrooms?
Additionally, I may reiterate that the assistance of ICAR, NEHU, Botanical Survey of India; NEIGRIHMS etc. could also come in handy in coordinating outreach efforts to all concerned against the life-threatening consequences on selective wild mushrooms. I hope these may be viable options to adopt hereinafter to avert further loss of human lives.
Yours etc
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Shillong 2