Editor,
I am deeply pained to learn that an FIR has been lodged by Lawsohtun Dorbar against Patricia Mukhim for her Facebook post on the recent assault of some youths in that area. The fact that such an FIR was lodged simply because Ms Mukhim posed a legitimate question to the Dorbar is disheartening for the freedom expression in our state. It is also disturbing to note that some NGOs have lent support to the Dorbar’s action on the grounds that the Ms Mukhim’s post would bring about communal tension in the state. Their stand is ironic considering the fact that it is the NGOs who have been trying to create communal unrest and malign other communities by spreading an unfounded fear of retaliatory violence against tribal people in other states of the country. If pressed, the NGOs would be unable to cite a single case of violence against our state’s tribals outside Meghalaya post 1979 that occurred as retaliation for the violence faced by non-tribals, which proves that their apprehension is baseless. Over the decades, we have seen that despite several brutal attacks on non-tribals in Meghalaya, our state’s tribals have remained safe and secure in all parts of the country. This attitude displayed by people nationwide is something we should applaud and emulate here, instead of trying to malign them without cause.
Yours etc.,
N K Kehar
Shillong-3
Stop social gatherings
Editor,
The recent spike of Covid19 in the our state despite the hard work that the government is putting in to contain the spread of the virus, is of great concern for everyone. It looks like the spike will continue. The Government has from time to time put in place protocols for the general public to follow so as to contain the spread. As we have seen in the recent past, the spread was mainly due to people violating these protocols and in gatherings such as weddings, funerals and religious activities etc. Fortunately in our state, the churches have been able to take the opportunity of providing online services so as to bring the message of hope and provide solace and spiritual support to their members. Unfortunately, in doing so the churches have violated the protocol where gathering of more than four people is prohibited. I have watched many of these online church services and I can see large groups of people attending the service. This is very dangerous and will put the lives of many people at risk if anyone in the group is asymptomatic as was seen in many parts of the world where the spike increased from a small gathering. May I therefore request the churches to abide by the protocol and for the authorities to take notice of such violations so as to protect and safeguard the lives of citizens of the state.
Yours etc.,
L Bala,
Shillong-3
A second debate
Editor,
It was only a year back that children were jolted on result day, especially in South Garo Hills. It is rather unfortunate that the workshop on the curriculum and evaluating of text books organised by DERT, Meghalaya as directed by the National FrameWork Curriculum, Delhi was never respected. Difficult topics were made qualitative and the latest NCERT books on Theory and Lab were prescribed. That was 2005. We succumbed to private publishers, and who approved these books was never known. Whatever be the case our children suffer especially the ones of poor parents who cannot afford to pay tuition fees of Rs 2000 per science subject per month. When I read the 2020 Physics New course Question paper of Class XII, I was aghast and wrote to the Chairman MBOSE Tura, and the Director MBOSE Shillong. But it appears I was only a fault finder.
The fact of the matter is that at long last MBOSE had to call it a day to the Mehta Brothers. Physics 2019 class XII session saw the abrupt jerky introduction of CBSE texts with NCERT curriculum. By what flight of fancy have we sidelined NCERT text books, I fail to understand. Let me tell readers that frequent change of curriculum with private publishers invading each time, had made school bags too heavy to carry. Syllabi from M.Sc was pushed to B.Sc then Class XI and XII to IX and X where our children see stars, compounded with no practical work nor activities. Instead we hear our children reading poems. Alas ! The NCERT text books proved too difficult to digest. One city school, on its own uses, “Pradeep Fundamental Physics” a bazaar note. Worse is that the paper setter of Physics new course 2020 set all the 31 questions from that book. None of the questions pertain to the CBSE, ICSE, NCERT, IIT, Boards of W.B, Karnataka, Kerala etc. Objectives are wrong. There is discrepancy of markings and funny circuit analysis with diodes. Students are suffering miserably.
But students should be cheerful. They still have 2 months to compete in NEET and JEE to fix their careers. Making use of lockdown I have collected about 200 problems. Some solved. I shall try to reach them to schools all over the state.
Yours etc.,
Wandell Passah.
Member, 2005 workshop (DERT),
National Curriculum FrameWork
Delhi.