Editor,
This is to bring to the notice of readers in general and the Education Department/MBOSE in particular on the malpractices in Sankardev College, Shillong where for submission of examination forms, MBOSE registration and filling of scholarship forms, students have to pay fines for no reason at all. Students are asked to pay the fines even when they submit the papers in time. The Principal of the college after berating students takes the so called fine without issuing any receipt. For any signature or recommendation required from the Principal a minimum of Rs 50 has to be paid. The staff of the college are also in the same league; one has to bribe them before getting things done. This amounts to extortion and the practice has created indiscipline in the said college where staff attend office at 11.30am and after 2.00 pm not a soul is available in the college office. This has become a misery for students during times of urgency.
Yours etc.,
P Lyngdoh,
Shillong-4
Unsavoury Dorbar affairs
Editor,
In recent times we have witnessed the lack of credibility of so-called leaders who head the Dorbar Shnong and their team. The Dorbar is elected by the people of the locality/village and the executive committee is supposed to take decisions which are in the larger interests of the people. But such is not the case. Very often the Rangbah Shnong (headman) takes personal decisions about important issues, including those involving land alienation as is happening in Jaintia Hills where large areas are given out to cement companies without the knowledge of the Shnong and its residents.
Meghalaya is a state where two types of governance is practised. One is parliamentary democracy; the other is a rule by a few clans without a fair practice of election as should happen in a democracy. Any decision taken by the Syiem (chieftain) on behalf of the Hima (area of jurisdiction) should be by the Syiem in Council which means that he should always consult the myntri (ministers). But this hardly happens today. In most cases the Syiem, the Sordar Raid and the Rangbah Shnong take arbitrary decisions and we the people are left holding the baby when things go wrong. I also cannot understand why we have to hang on to a tradition that has not been able to protect our rights particularly our rights over land and natural resources. It is time to take a hard look at tradition in these testing times.
Yours etc.,
S Marbaniang
Shillong-8