Editor,
Apropos the complaint about piling of building materials along the Lower New Colony to Laitumkhrah road, it seems that the owner of the offending pile of building materials on the road is surprisingly the Secretary of the Lower New Colony, Dong, who should in fact be the person to see that such things are not done. This is a very important road used by many commuters and therefore such wilful obstructions should not be allowed, whomsoever the offender may be. I drive all the way from Mawlai to Laitumkhrah every school day and like other commuters, always face a problem at this point as there are always vehicles parked by the roadside. Another area where there is irresponsible parking is further along the road next to the residence of Mr A.K Mondal, Minister Transport, who always parks his train of vehicles bang on the road. The next hurdle is alongside the residence of Shri P.A.Sangma opposite a restaurant where there is parking on both sides of the road all along the way to the office of the Director Health Services. Commuting along this important road is a nightmare for people, especially school going children who are tensed up by avoidable delays due to such obstructions. On behalf of all frustrated commuters of this road I ask the defaulters to refrain from such thoughtless actions. To the concerned Shnong and District authorities my request is to keep this road free flowing. The motorcycle borne police should cruise along this road daily to ensure this.
Yours etc.,
B Pyngrope,
Shillong-8
Where is the truth?
Editor,
Apropos the article by Patricia Mukhim captioned, ‘ Of NGO’s , child labour and tall claims (ST June 1, 2012) I must express my sincere appreciation for the write-up as it has thrown more light on matters pertaining to child labour in Jaintia Hills. In addition to what was written in the article, I had on my part as an ardent reader searched through Google on the subject of ‘Child Labour in Jaintia Hills’ and found out that the research By Impulse NGO was funded by the Esther Benjamins Trust Nepal and written by Rachael Kilsby, Research Manager, Impulse NGO. The research was funded to find out how many children from that country were working in the coal mines of Jaintia Hills. The Impulse NGO’s findings that 70,000 children are working in the mines of Jaintia Hills were obtained from the data in Department of Health and Family Welfare , Government of Meghalaya in the year 2010 during the meningococcal meningitis epidemic. How on earth could this data be construed as a Gospel truth when the epidemic had affected the entire populace of Jaintia Hills. Impulse NGO must take note that not all people and particularly the children in Jaintia Hills are engaged in labour in the coal mines. Impulse had reported their findings directly to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and stated that it is essential that India fulfils its legal obligations to address such alarming situation! The question here is whether the Impulse is a foreign NGO to bypass the National Human Rights Commission or other competent authorities within the country which should deal with such vital issues! Why was the State and Central Government totally ignored? Impulse NGO must henceforth stop receiving or asking for aid and funding from the Indian Government, particularly from the Department of Social Welfare. I am no supporter of child labour in any form, be it in Jaintia Hills or elsewhere but I totally rebut the word ” trafficking ” used by Hasina Kharbhih of the Impulse NGO as the said word was used in totally different context. To me the entire complaint reeks of getting uncalled-for publicity at the international level solely for personal and selfish gains or perhaps to obtain few more ‘phony awards’.
Yours etc.,
Cliff R Sohtun
Shillong -6
KSU does not represent Meghalaya
Editor,
They say public memory is short for certain but not if we can recollect those days when Mr. Paul Lyngdoh the former KSU President vehemently objected to the railway project and now finds himself in a fix over his volte-face after joining politics. Likewise, the KSU has criticised his stand over the pro-railway project. Whatever be the case we need the railways to come and clearly the KSU does not have the required mandate of the people to decide what is good and bad for the State. The issue of influx etc…will forever be a platform for the organisation to catapult its people into politics. Readers would be happy if the organisation could show something worthy a cause to fight for, then perhaps the people would support the Union’s views.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3