Editor,
The upcoming Basin Livelihood Development project under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma can be said to be a unique and innovative form of intervention that aims at reaching the masses in the rural areas. In its maiden publicity that focuses on nine livelihood creative missions, there will be aspirations, demands as well as delays which should be kept in mind while initiating the project at the village level. When implemented at the District, Block and down to the villages its awareness, outreach, action and impact should be felt not by mere numbers but by realistic change coupled with statistics matching the targets and achievements. The Project looks like it aims to cover the poorest households hence if the stakeholders are identified from the BPL list then it would fail since such list is prone to manipulation at the village level. The government should conduct a revised baseline survey by collaborating with well-established genuine self help groups like the Block Resources Management Committees that have been formed under the aegis and support from MRDS-LIFCOM, thus giving it adequate knowledge and information. Mere top down approach as used by the bureaucracy while dealing with the villages will not create any positive outcome. Instead, integrating the village councils and the SHG’s would help create a fool proof mechanism against misuse and enable gradual development in the socio-economic life of the people. One wishes the best outcome from Dr Mukul’s leadership and his team..
Yours etc.,
Dominic S Wankhar
Tluh-Jaintia Hills
Rash driving
Editor,
Through these columns I want to draw the attention of the general public towards the problem of rash driving on Shillong roads which have taken a toll on human lives. Last December on the way to Shillong peak a truck crushed a local taxi which was trying to overtake it. Four people died on the spot including the driver. There are more such cases which have shocked the people. The main factor is rash driving. There is always competition among the taxi drivers to grab the prospective passengers. Drinking and driving and lack of knowledge about the traffic rules among drivers are some of the causes of accidents, some fatal. My suggestion is that driving licenses should be issued only after thorough testing and screening. Secondly, the authorities must regulate traffic to prevent jams. I appeal to all who use the road to obey the traffic rules.
Yours etc.,
Sangeeta Dayal,
Via email
Load shedding woes
ditor,
The load shedding in most parts of the city has encouraged anti social elements to operate under the cover of darkness. Load shedding between 12am and 5am, instead of solving the power outage problems, has instead created another set of problems whereby the residents of Shillong are having sleepless nights or sleeping with one eye open just to keep watch and be alert in case any untoward incident occurs. The question to MeECL is, why can they not divide the load-shedding into different batches during the day like it is done in other big cities at the time when the requirement of electricity is less and thereby avoid creating a citywide blackout after 1am. I hope the MeECL will take into consideration the problems faced by the people and act accordingly.
Yours etc.,
G Kharmujai,
Via email