Editor,
I would urge the various NGO’s working in Meghalaya and the Government of Meghalaya to start up “Generic Drug” medical stores across the state. As referred in “Satyameva Jayate” (May 27 2012) generic drugs are cheaper as compared to other branded drugs. A strip of general diabetic drug costs approximately Rs 115, whereas the same composition generic drug costs Rs 1.50 per strip. Another example shown
was that of blood cancer drugs. A branded blood cancer drug cost Rs 1.25 lakh per strip where as the same composition generic drug costs only Rs 6000-8000 per strip.
So, a generic drug shop will benefit more people especially those who cannot cough up the money to buy expensive branded drugs and who stand to lose their lives because of that. I would also like to inform the various NGO’s who are willing to start up a generic drug store that the “Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers,” will donate Rs 50,000 as a head start. I would also urge the Government of Meghalaya to follow the initiative
taken by the Rajasthan Government which opened various generic drug stores across the state, thereby making the various essential drugs available at a very low price.
Yours etc.,
Neeloybrata Das
Faculty Sikkim Manipal University,
Shillong
SMB and school buses?
Editor,
I was taken aback by the announcement of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) that they would be running school buses for children from different localities of Shillong. I would request the SMB authorities to concentrate on their most important priority which is to provide civic amenities to citizens rather than embarking on new projects. The Education Department should direct all schools to have their own school buses as is prevalent in other parts of the country. Every city and for that matter even schools in hill stations have their own buses for their students. The Government should give serious thought to this matter. This will also ease the traffic snarls since hundreds of private car ferry students to and from school everyday.
Yours etc.,
S.L. Singhania
Shillong -1
Free for all
Editor,
I commute almost every day from my home to drop my school going children at Laitumkhrah via Lower New Colony. Last week I encountered two unpleasant altercations with fellow commuters for no fault of mine or theirs. The problem was caused by some nitwit who has found it convenient enough to stock pile his/her building materials on the roadside, thereby decreasing the road width and exposing every commuter to inconvenience. I fail to understand how the Durbar Shnong of Lower New Colony and for that matter the PWD which is the custodian of roads, the Laitumkhrah Traffic Police (who jumps at the slightest opportunity to penalise wrong parking since this is more serious, as it is a semi- permanent parking/ obstruction of traffic) and more importantly the Municipal and Urban Affairs Department or any powers that be can allow such blatant misuse of public property.
Yours etc.,
W Lyngdoh,
Via email
Modernising the existing slaughter house
Editor,
Slaughter houses are normally controlled by local bodies, which should follow the standards prescribed, but due to non-existence of modernised slaughter houses, environmental pollution arising out of the slaughtering activities cannot be controlled. The local bodies must, therefore, take up modernisation of slaughter houses and achieve the pollution control norms. The ongoing Project of the Veterinary Department for improving the slaughter house in Shillong was estimated at Rs 22 crores (approximately). The existing slaughter house in Shillong which is located in Jaiaw Langsning (Lad Jaiaw) is surrounded by different localities; on the north by Lumkshaid; on the east by Dymmiew; on the south by Sunny Hill and on the west by Jaiaw Langsning. The present condition of this slaughter house is appalling as it was not properly constructed according to the norms mentioned in Chapter 5 of Solid Waste Management (Ministry of Urban Development), Government of India Rules 2000. The effluents discharged from this slaughter house flow into the Wah Disoi stream and finally join the main stream of Wah Umkhrah thereby polluting it.
While the proposed modernised slaughter house would be helpful to some extent in preventing pollution of the Wah Umkhrah its location in Mawlai Mawiong opposite to the old landfill site at Marten will create other problems. This area is outside the jurisdiction of Shillong Municipal Board and falls under the Shillong Agglomeration area where the traditional Institutions/ Dorbar Shnong (TI) have got full control of the area. Moreover,
the proposed construction has now led to agitation from the people residing in the surrounding areas of Mawiong Umjapung and Mawiong Rim. Also, the slaughter house will pollute the main stream of Wah Umshing by discharging the effluents into this stream. This stream is the main source of water supply for the people of these areas. Even after due process of filtration, people feel that that water would be unsafe for drinking purposes.
According to the Solid Waste Management MoUD handling rules there must be constant supply of fresh air at adequate pressure throughout the premises and the area around the slaughter house must be hygienic. This would not be possible as the area is only about 10-20 metres away from the dumping site. The foul odour and flies which are present and breed there at the dumping ground will spread all over the slaughter house and contaminate the final product which will not be safe for human consumption.
Your etc..
Willibertstar Diengdoh,
Via email