Things have a habit of turning into empty rituals over time. So it is with Meghalaya Day, Republic Day or Independence Day. On Saturday the State will turn forty. The Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma had given a sneak preview of what the celebrations are going to be like. Some schemes will be announced and achievements highlighted. This year is crucial for the UPA. By February-March next year the state will go to the polls. Individual MLAs will have to produce a report card to their constituents and the Government will need to compile a list of its achievements – perceived and real. Not too many people will do a cross check of facts and figures and counter those claims. Only the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which has literally been pushed to the boondocks has the right to demolish the MUA Government’s claims if it chooses to. Come to think of it, the two major political parties – the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Congress have literally been partners in crime or co-workers for progress depending on the lenses used by the people who have either been at the receiving end or have benefited from the coalition’s largesse.
In this one year people will have to assess the MUA’s claim to fame. How many progressive legislations has the Government enacted? Where is the Education Policy? What about the Mining Policy that was promised as a new year’s gift in 2011? A lot of noise was made about the Youth Policy too. We are afraid all these may remain in the realm of promises or they might be hurriedly passed without due deliberation thereby making the policies infructuous. Policies need to be accessible to the public and citizens must have a part in framing laws for their benefit. Informed public opinion is important to guide all policy decisions. This will reduce arbitrary decision making. People should be allowed to decide whether railways are good or bad for them. They should decide the environmental guidelines for the State and also vote against bad policy decisions. Greater public engagement in governance is imperative. This process of seeking accountability for the use of public funds and the diversion of PDS materials has begun in a small way. It needs to be further enhanced even while social audit processes are strengthened. All these small, pro-active measures would be the best gift that people can give themselves in a democracy. In fact these are the small gains that Meghalaya can be proud of on her fortieth birthday.