Editor,
As per norms of the Finance Department Govt. of Meghalaya, non-gazetted officers who are pensioners have to appear before “Treasury Officers” Shillong for their “Live Certificates” twice a year in January and July to proive they are alive otherwise their pensions will be stopped. Many pensions cases have not yet been transferred to their place of domicile of the residents. Many non-gazetted employees are residing outside Meghalaya after their retirement from Govt service. For them to come to Shillong twice a year means huge expenditure by way of train fare, hotel charges etc. I therefore appeal to the Meghalaya Govt to either transfer pension cases to the respective places of residence of the pensioners or allow them to appear once in November like other gazetted officers so that they are not taxed financially, physically and mentally.
Yours etc.,
Retired teacher
Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School.
Traffic rules for convenience of public
Editor,
The past few weeks have been filled with accolades pouring in from all the corners for the traffic personnel with regards to the two incidents that had taken place. Today, however, I wonder, if all the traffic personnel have got the real meaning of the “traffic rules”.
I was going to Police Bazar on 26th December at about 3.45 pm, from my residence in Bishnupur. On reaching the Rhino Point, I found that there was a huge jam on the lane leading towards GS Road, so much so that vehicles were stranded up to the Police Point at Rhino whereas the traffic towards Police Bazar was moving freely. Generally what happens is that at those moments the traffic personnel allow you to go towards Police Bazar and the “traffic rule” of making a big turn from Anjalee Petrol Pump is done away with. With that in mind, I asked the traffic gentlemen there to allow my vehicle to pass towards Police Bazar. But to my utter surprise, he asked me to follow the “rules” and make a turn from Anjalee Point. There was already a huge congestion and his asking me to go and add to that jam literally surprised me. I told him that this would create more congestion so why did he not allow the vehicles moving towards the Police Bazar to pass through. He replied saying, “What can I do? You have to follow the rules”. That literally surprised me. I believe the traffic personnel are there to manage traffic in the best possible way and not become a source of aggravating it. I had to move reluctantly in the already cluttered sea of vehicles and wait patiently until I reached the Anjalee Point from where I had to make a turn to go to my destination. However, adding a cherry to the entire incident, when I turned towards the Anjalee Point, I noticed from my rear view mirror a car breaking the “traffic rules” and going towards Police Bazar. I immediately turned to notice that the same was a “ML 01” car, obviously a VIP vehicle. Sadly, the “traffic rules” are still implemented on the common public only.
I hope the concerned department looks into this and makes its officers and personnel understand that the “traffic rules” are to serve the community at large and also to ensure that such rules are implemented without bias.
Yours etc.,
Albert Lyngdoh,
Via email