Editor,
As a citizen of India, I thought the Fair Price shops were meant to serve the public and save them from the unrealistic prices of the market but that’s not how it works. I am a resident of Lower Mawprem (although I have been working outside for the past 4 yrs). Last time I visited home, I accompanied my father to the fair price shop located close to the former post office at Lower Mawprem. On reaching there, I found the dealer’s attitude appalling to say the least. Before weighing the rice, my father weighed the jute bag (0.5kg) he brought with him to carry the rice back. But while weighing the rice in the bag, the dealer rudely (almost insultingly) said that he would not consider the bag’s weight while weighing the rice due to which he cunningly gained 0.5kg of rice. I am sure he does this with all the people and thus earns a lot of money with the added satisfaction of robbing people of their rights in broad daylight. As a common man, I was forced to be a mute spectator to the gross injustice being done. Its not about the 0.5kg of rice, it’s about being treated so humiliatingly. Are the Fair Price Shop dealers issued licence for CORRUPTION and HUMILIATION? If not, who do I register a complaint with?
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Too many NGOs
Editor,
An organization named Meghalaya Association of the Deaf is selling tickets for a Dance Drama and Mine for the Deaf in Hyderabad in 2012. The antecedents of the organization needs to be ascertained. The above named organization is in no way connected to “Meghalaya Deaf Association” of Bethany Society, Laitumkhrah, Shillong .
Yours etc.,
Ms. Sona Choudhury
President, Meghalaya Deaf Association, Shillong
MCCL collapse- who’s responsible?
Editor,
Our state is famous for many failed projects, delayed projects and derailed projects, like Traffic light signals, Leshka-hydel project, Bypass, Four-laning, Crowborough hotel, rail head, State Assembly building. Name them all, we have all. Among one of these also is the Meghalaya Cements Company Limited (MCCL) a new plant (modernization of MCCL), the only big industrial unit owned by our State. It appears that the work for the new plant is proceeding at a very slow pace. It is learnt that the costly machineries are getting rusted; there is a danger of cost overrun. The old plant is in bad shape and can no longer sustain good production, so it is headed to be another white elephant just like the previous infamous MTC. Even the employees who work overtime have not get their dues. One wonders whether this delay in completing the plant is to promote other private cement factories in the state. What about the crores of money being promised or given to the MCCL? Where are the local representatives? If the MCCL collapses at any time, for sure the economy of Sohra region will also collapse then who will be responsible? If this happens, then we will have news that reads, “Sohra people have discovered the real menshohnoh and real Thlen” and what will happen next only God knows. So we request the people in the management and authority to wake up before it’s too late.
Yours etc.,
M.Lyndem
Via email
GS Road repair-total rubbish!
Editor,
The denizens of Shillong heaved a collective sigh of relief when repair work was finally stared on GS Road between Mawiong and Umiam. But the relief has been short-lived as a closer look at the quality of repairs shows up the work to be sub-standard. The bitumen layer is so thin that the gravel has already started coming loose. The roads too have not been levelled properly, resulting in a bumpy ride. While it is easy to blame the contractors, the primary responsibility lies with the Meghalaya PWD. Are they not supposed to be present on site to check the progress and quality of work? What is the Chief Engineer and the PWD Minister doing? Shoddy work and corruption has become a trademark of the Meghalaya government. The PWD bureaucrats have nothing to worry about as they are protected by their political masters for a share of the loot. But this time, the public will not forget (or forgive) this issue during elections considering the amount of coverage in the tabloids and on the internet.
The GS road will crumble in less than a year unless the PWD takes corrective action immediately. The expected increase in the volume of coal trucks during the winter months will ensure that the road does not last till the next monsoons. In my earlier letter carried in these columns I had suggested that the PWD be transparent in their dealing by putting up signage stating names of the PWD Engineers, Contractors, Starting Date and End Date at the repair sites. Unfortunately, it appears the PWD prefers to conduct its affairs in secret in case they get asked uncomfortable questions and are held accountable for the unholy mess. Anyone interested in seeing the latest pictures of the repairs can visit the Save Umiam page on Facebook and look at the photos section.
This needs to be tackled with the utmost urgency by the Government.
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Shillong-3