Editor,
On 1st July when I opened the website of your paper at the suggestion of a friend, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The boring, dull look was gone and instead there was a bright page welcoming me. It took me sometime to realize what I was seeing! Earlier I would irregularly visit your website, but now I am hooked to it. However, today as I was going through the web version of your paper, I couldn’t help but wish that it was more frequently updated and not just once a day. I understand that ‘breaking news’ does not happen in Meghalaya as often as it does in other places, but an update of news on the website would indeed be very nice.
Yours etc.,
Reetasri Bhattacharjee,
Via email
Insensitivity of men in uniform
Editor,
Members of a family proceeding to the All Saint’s Church cemetery, to commemorate a death anniversary, had to encounter imperious behaviour of lower rank army officials on the evening of July 12. The incident occurred when vehicles were stopped by sentries guarding the residence of GOC 101 Area from proceeding towards the century old cemetery located in a plot belonging exclusively to the Church, outside the boundary of the residence and defence area. The approach road to the cemetery passes outside the boundary wall of the residence and is not within the sphere of army control. Yet, gun toting sentries refused passage of the vehicles without permission of the proper authority. Ignorance of the sentries about their jurisdiction and authority was obvious. It was only through intervention of elders that they finally relented and saved the situation from turning ugly. The authorities must sensitize the sentries that this cemetery is one of the oldest in the city over which army authorities have no jurisdiction, and, no permission is necessary to enter the place.
Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen
Over-pricing milk!
Editor,
The Central Dairy, Mawiong under District Milk Procurement and Marketing Agency, A.H. & Veterinary Department packs and sells Megha Milk in quantities of 500 ml. This is sold at Jhalupara by the retail shopkeepers at Rs 16 per packet whereas the MRP printed on the milk packet is Rs 14.50 (including all taxes). It is not understood as to how the Central Dairy, Mawiong, has authorized the retail shopkeepers to sell the milk at a profit of Rs 1.50 per packet. When I enquired from the shopkeepers why the milk was over-priced, I was told that the Central Dairy charges Rs15 per packet. When I asked why they over-charged the consumer by a rupee if the Central Dairy charges Rs 15 per packet instead of Rs 14.50 which is the MRP, I was told by the retailers that they have added one rupee more as they have to keep the milk packets in the refrigerator. The question now is who has authorized the sale of milk at a higher price than the MRP? The retailers keep the milk packet in the refrigerator for their own benefit so that the stored milk does not curdle. If so, why should the consumer bear the expenditure of refrigerating the milk packet by the shopkeepers? I am surprised that neither the Central Dairy nor the Consumer Forum bothers to check such rampant corruption. We talk of eradicating corruption at all levels but we are not vigilant about checking corruption that goes on under our noses.
The Central Dairy, the Consumer Forum and the Police Department are requested to make thorough enquiries about this and the persons involved in such unscrupulous business should be punished as per the law of the land.
Yours etc.,
BB Chettri
Shillong-2