Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Why are the NGOs silent?”( ST 21st Jan 2012), the excuses given by the NGOs are not plausible and they cannot take the people for a ride . These NGOs are well aware that the coal and the cement laden trucks are the main cause for the frequent traffic jams. They are also not blind to the fact that both these activities also attribute to major influx of outsiders, social evils, environmental degradation ,political instability , economic disparity, death on the roads and what not. Yet they choose to remain silent on all these outrageous activities as too much is at stake because a single day bandh or a one night road blockade would be of great disadvantage to them. Instead, the KSU has even gone to the extent of forming units in Jaintia Hills much to the displeasure of the JSU because they realize they have to take advantage of the opportunities available there. People have realised that all these NGOs are fake because ideologies are overshadowed by vested interests. Unfortunately there is no collective call as of now to challenge their genuineness. It is learnt that some of the NGO leaders will jump into the political arena and may contest the next elections. If it is true then they must be filthy rich as one cannot contest elections nowadays without big money in hand. So from where has the money come from? Let the NGOs answer.
Yours etc.,
P Marbaniang,
Via email
Speed up the re-evaluation process
Editor,
Everyone believes that NEHU is an institute of excellence in imparting knowledge to the people of North East. Yet there are departments within NEHU that do not care about the fate of students. For instance those who got their papers re-evaluated in 2011 are yet to get the results of the evaluation and the next exams are just two weeks away. Why do the evaluators take so long to do their work and thereby keep students on tenterhooks? I humbly request the Controller of Examinations to kindly speed up the re-evaluation process and publish the results at the earliest.
Yours etc.
Tobias Sangma
Garobadha
Of private universities
Editor,
The manner in which private varsities have invaded Shillong has taken a huge toll on the student community. In fact most of these private varsities are here to make money. Right from 2005, eight private universities have come up and now three more have been introduced. These varsities charge exorbitant fees (minimum Rs 4- 5 lakhs) and seem to be profit making institutes. Unfortunately the quality of education they impart is not commensurate to the fees they charge. Moreover they have poor infrastructure. The basic requirement for an engineering college is a state of the art laboratory, a work shop, an electronics lab, a boiler etc for running a mechanical engineering course and a computer lab with the latest technology and software for computer engineering. Hopefully, now with NIT coming, students will have the option to understand the difference. An NIT or an IIM are leagues apart and it’s very nice that these universities of repute are now in Shillong.
Yours etc.,
S Wahlang,
Via email