Editor,
It is sad to learn that our Government had outsourced the drafting of the state health policy to a private institution, and that too at a price. With high infant and maternal mortality rates in our state, coupled with the damning report of the CAG which appeared in a regional paper on March 28, 2012 revealing the increase in deaths and sufferings of the people of Meghalaya because of increasing waterborne and airborne disease, one would have expected that our public representatives especially those holding the health portfolio to have given top priority and initiate a more serious debate on this important policy matter, but instead of being the law makers and policy makers of the state, they have outsourced their responsibilities as legislators.
Had the government asked for inputs from the general public while drafting the state health policy, I am sure many capable and responsible citizens in the state and even concerned NGOs including the Maitshaphrang would be more than willing to contribute towards a strong and effective Health Policy for the benefit of the state without any payment. As citizens of Meghalaya let us remind ourselves that when we vote, we decide, not only for our future but also for the future of our state, because Meghalaya urgently needs more policy makers and law makers.
Yours etc.,
Michael M Syiem
Of foreign jaunts
Editor,
This is concerning the news of Meghalaya Government officials who visited the World Bamboo Congress at Brussels. It is a pity that many in our state who have been working on bamboo for years and have great knowledge on the subject were not approached to take part in the Congress. The entire team with the exception of Tony Marak, PCCF, has no knowledge of bamboo and the species that are available in Meghalaya. It is very sad that this is happening. Last July there was a big 10- day Bamboo Workshop in Shillong at Lady Hydari Park, sponsored by Department of Environment and Forests, Meghalaya, which you had reported. Since then there has been no follow up. The IFS officer in-charge of the Bamboo Mission in Meghalaya does not care. Out of the 40 participants only 2 have continued on with the work earning good money as a livelihood.
The 1st Duplex private home at Kyrdem Kulai has been built totally out of bamboo. The first Gazebo, also totally out of bamboo, has been built at ‘Munchies’ on Laitumkhrah Main Road near Don Bosco Square. The government officials have never bothered to visit any of these places and yet they spoke to an august group of World Class Bamboo Architects at Brussels. I wonder what next? Inviting the South Koreans to visit the state is another blunder as they are not the pioneers of bamboo structures. It’s the South Americans! Do we want another ‘Posco’ happening in Meghalaya?
Yours etc.,
Ghani Zaman,
Via email
Constructive criticism
Editor,
As well-wishers of All Saints School, we, the parents of students studying in this school would like to bring to the attention of the concerned authorities, a few constructive criticisms for the betterment of the students and the school. For a number of years now, it is noticed that in spite of regular and timely payment of maintenance fees, there is no maintenance of classrooms (like up-gradation of benches and blackboards). The lack of maintenance is also visible in the condition of the field during the recently concluded sports day. For such a prestigious school, this must be seen as an embarrassment. While there are no complaints as far as studies go, we would like to suggest that perhaps having some co-curricular activities would improve the student’s all-round development. As the saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.
Yours etc
Concerned parents
What’s Mr Pala up to?
Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Block Congress Questions Pala’s intentions” and “Shillong MP under fire for clandestine politicking” (ST April 12 & 14 2012), the Jirang Block Congress Committee must be congratulated for the guts it has to question the intention of the Water Resources Minister and Member of Parliament from Shillong. The action of the MP is a subversion of the democratic process of candidate selection in the Congress party. I was in West Khasi Hills recently and learnt from Congress Party members that a similar story is playing itself out in Nongstoin. If the Congress still upholds its principles and ideologies then as a Congress supporter and voter since the days of Late Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, my appeal to Sonia Gandhi, President, All India Congress Committee (AICC) is to kindly issue a direction to the new MP so that he is made aware of the process of selection of a candidate which is a bottoms-up approach, failing which one foresees that the Congress candidates might have to forfeit their security deposit in the coming Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections, 2013 in a number of constituencies in East and West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi District where the bulk of the voters lie. If the Congress still values democratic processes then it should ensure that it upholds the freedom of selection of candidates from the Block Level. The Congress should understand that selling/buying of tickets in a market place may not be a blessing but a curse in 2013. I appreciate the wisdom of the President, AICC to have approved on Nov 29, 2011 a High Level Committee for the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election 2013. I hope the Committee will not fail to oversee the democratic process of selection of candidates based on the principles and ideologies of the Indian National Congress.
Yours etc.,
Freddy Lyngdoh,
Via email