Editor,
A precedence created by the State government last time in nominating a district level officer who is not from the State Civil Service to the Indian Administrative Service has given high hopes to many other District level officers that they would be included in the panel for nomination this year, now that a vacancy has arisen. Unfortunately many officers will miss out as it is understood that the Personnel Department did not adopt a pragmatic approach to ensure that deserving officers be they from the Directorates or from the Districts are included in the panel. The circular inviting nominations was issued only to the Administrative Heads of Departments, many of whom hesitate recommend anyone as they do not remain in each Department long enough to be acquainted with the functioning and the personality of the officers within their respective Departments. Some are least bothered and do not make any effort to even seek recommendations from their Directorates. In the meantime it is rumoured that the government has already considered nominating a middle level ranking officer of the Planning Department. While one cannot pass judgement on this particular officer , it is a known fact that unlike the District level officers or officers of Directorates particularly those of development departments, officers of the Planning Department are co-opted within the four walls of the Secretariat throughout their service careers. The District Planning Officer’s post is manned by Civil Services Officers. They are never exposed to the intricacies involved in implementation of works. Neither have they confronted public pressures. Hence they do not understand the complexity of public sentiments. They lack experience in personnel management as they do not have direct command over any army whether small or big. They simply push files and await decisions from their top bosses. In other words, they would hardly be capable of manning a service with extreme demands and many challenges. The Personnel Department should not take the matter casually or sacrifice principles because of political pressure or favouritism but should be fair ,transparent, systematic and thorough in its approach in order to empanel deserving officers. While this may involve extra effort and time the end result is that the State gets good administrators who would be valuable assets to its people
P.Marbaniang
.
Correction!
Editor,
Apropos the report, “Tradition Hinders Women’s Active Participation in Politics” (June 29, 2012) I would like to bring to your notice that the data of voter turn out as given in your paper is for the whole of Meghalaya and not for the four districts of the state. Also, the total number of women contestants from 1972 to 2008, without taking the bye elections into consideration is 56 and not 54.
Yours etc.
Rita Biswa
Saint Mary’s College
Shillong.
Tribals unite!
Editor,
I was surprised to read T Marak’s letter (ST June 29, 2012) claiming to be inspired by the writing of Jayashree Dutta an NRI. He has been deceived by the latter’s writing After being misled, Marak went on to blame Mr P A Sangma for the dismal state of affairs in Garo Hills. But blaming Sangma alone at this juncture is neither acceptable nor proper. There are several issues pertaining to Garo Hills and those issues should have been highlighted a long time ago. Marak should have been equally critical of the other corrupt politicians from Garo Hills. Why did he choose to remain silent about them? Wake up A’chik and tribals it’s not the time to play cheap politics. It’s now or never for tribals to unite themselves and make history. Lets prove to the world that even the tribals can be able leaders and administrators. I humbly request tribals to support one another for our own cause. Let others say anything against us but we should not, like T Marak, join them and envy our own success.
Yours etc.,
V Sangma,
Shillong
President must represent all Indians
Editor
In his ambition to become the President of India, Mr PA Sangma is practising communal politics. He is a politician held in high esteem in the country and has been the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, a Union Minister and the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. In addition to that he has never been embroiled in any scam or controversy. So I fail to understand why in spite of having a clean image he is trying to highlight himself as a tribal candidate supported by the Tribal Forum of India. Does this imply that non-tribal MPs and MLAs will not support him? India is a secular nation and anyone who has the capacity serve the nation as President or Prime Minister will be supported by all, no matter which religion, community or tribe he or she belongs to. We need an Indian President not a tribal one. This Presidential election has become the cheapest of all. Sangma is projecting himself as a tribal candidate as if after becoming the President he will render his valuable service only to the tribals of India. His son James Sangma meanwhile stated that the office of President should be open to all communities and religions. This does not look like a Presidential election but a political competition between different religious and linguistic groups of India. Both PA Sangma and Pranab Mukherjee have the capacity to become President but I would be very happy if the right candidate wins on their individual capacity without any regional or communal backing. The office of President is not a reserved post; so in his bid to become the President, Sangma should not divide the nation and play with the sentiments of the people. We want an Indian President with national interests rather than one whose interests is to serve only one community. At this point I can only say may the best man win!
Yours etc.,
Premankur Dam
Shillong-4
Charity begins at home
Editor,
Recently the Prime Minister of India has given an assurance to give 10 billion dollars to ease the financial situation in Europe. That is fine, since India has merged itself with the global market. We need the European Union to be sound, so that it becomes a win -win situation for both India and Europe. However seeing the television reports of the flood situation in Assam, it is high time the Government of India realises that it has a duty to address the flood situation at home on a war footing. The flood affected people of Assam lose everything to the floods each year. Have we become insensitive to the basic needs of our very own people and pander to those who enjoy a truly world class lifestyle? Mr Prime Minister, charity begins at home. We ought to spend a fraction of the money that we are doling out to Europe to build world class dykes once and for all like the Dutch have done.
With you in the lead, Mr Prime Minister, let us all become concerned Indians and abandon the indifferent Indian tag that we presently have.
Yours etc.,
Tyrone D’Brass,
Tura