Editor,
It fills me with utter disgust and disdain just to read about the incidents that took place in Sohra during the past few weeks whereby 3 persons were killed due to mob justice meted upon them. Perhaps, Kangaroo Courts on those fateful nights deemed it fit and proper to sentence and convict them with capital punishment. In Khasi Hills, the Dorbar Shnong are seen as infallible and all their actions endorsed. The Rangbah Shnong/ Secretary Shnong or any other person (miscreants/culprits/murderers/killers) professing to be acting for and on behalf of the Dorbar have become “untouchables” and beyond the reach of the rule of law of the land. As a consequence, these incidents recur. And the sad part of it all is that these “killers” and “murderers” take pride in embarking on this crusade of social cleansing of “Menshohnohs”.
Time and again, such incidents continue to occur in the heart of our city, in general, and in one locality, in particular. Just a few months back, this locality witnessed mob fury against one family because somebody’s ailing child had a dream implicating the said “Menshohnoh” family in witchcraft. A decade back, people of this same locality descended upon and burnt alive members of a family because of their alleged “Thlen” connections. In a similar case, an old woman was brutally lynched because she nicknamed her chickens and pigs as “Bahdeng” and “Kongthei”.
What I fail to understand is why civil society at large is silent on this very disturbing and dastardly trend taking place in our social fabric in this 21st century. It is yet to voice its protest and condemnation against these so-called self-styled vigilantees who are all out to rid out society of “Thlen” and “Menshohnohs”. Even the Church is a mute spectator to this tragedy. The fact of the matter is that in our Khasi society, when you are affluent you are branded a “Menshohnoh”; and if you are living from hand to mouth, you are a “Nongtuh”. It all comes down to envy. And our State of Meghalaya is a predominantly Christian State. Does the Bible teach us to label others as “Menshohnohs”. The Bible simply says that “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor”.
Yours etc.,
James G Lyngdoh,
Shillong-3
Why ban only plastic bags
Editor,
Apropos the news item (ST 2 October 2011) that Government has decided to make Meghalaya a plastic-free state with a complete ban on plastic carry bags, I have the following reservations. The first is its practicality. In the past attempts were made to ban plastic bags, but it could not be enforced as both the sellers and the buyers, including the authorities who were supposed to enforce the ban faced inconvenience. Today, when everyone wants to lead a convenient and easy life, it is almost unthinkable to do away with plastic bags. We live in the world of plastics. We get water, fruit juice, medicines and countless other items of daily and mass use in plastic bottles and containers. Small pouches of tobacco products, shampoo etc. and larger packing of edibles and non-edibles like potato chips, detergent powder etc are made of plastic or plastic-like materials. All this come ready-made from the manufacturers and we have no any control over them. Hence, even if we are able to ban plastic carry bags, what are we going to do with these which form the bulk of plastic bags or packing materials we use daily? Can we shun all these items packed or bottled in plastic materials? Thirdly, all countries – developed and under-developed, advanced and backward, rich and poor use plastic carry bags. And I believe, the developed, advanced and rich countries use more plastic materials than the poor and less developed countries. Whether one shops in a small grocery store or a mall no one brings his/her own bag because plastic bags are provided. But these countries do not have the problem of pollution of environment as we have. Singapore is the cleanest city in the world. Similarly, New York, London, Tokyo, Bangkok and many others use plastic bags. Yet they remain clean cities. Even major Indian cities use more plastic bags per capita but are cleaner than Shillong. Why? It is because of their better civic sense and better disposal system.
It is futile to make distinctions between permissible grades and non-permissible grades of plastics because all grades are pollutants if we carelessly dispose them. So let’s not bark up the wrong tree. In Shillong or anywhere else in the north-east, we have no civic sense or discipline. That’s why we have dirty environment.
As long as we carelessly throw plastic bottles, containers etc. we will have a dirty environment even if we can effectively ban the use of plastic carry bags. The best way forward is not to ban plastic bags but to inculcate civic sense and discipline in citizens, introduce clean and effective disposal system and enforce stringent laws and regulations to punish those who violate them.
Yours etc.,
H Chin Khenthang
Shillong -11