Editor,
I begin this letter by placing on record my great appreciation for the selfless service rendered to the people of the State through EMRI 108 ambulance service for transporting the sick to the hospitals. Their prompt response to the needs of patients in critical situations has saved many a life. We have heard of the mother that named her child Emri in recognition of their timely help. However, I thought it good also to bring to the notice of the higher authorities of the EMRI services a sad incident that happened on 5th of July this year. The children of late Mr Edmund Nonghuloo requested the help of 108 to shift their ailing father from Nazareth hospital to Guwahati for treatment. At 11 pm they started for Gauhati but unfortunately before reaching Nongpoh he breathed his last. As per rules they drove to the nearest PHC in Nongpoh where the doctor declared him as brought dead. The helpful 108 now turned hostile. As per rule they are not allowed to carry the dead in 108 and so the driver and the paramedic of 108 refused to take them back to Shillong, in accordance with the instructions given to them. The heart rending plea of the two sons and the daughter were not heard and the ambulance sped off to Shillong leaving them on the verandah of the hospital at 3 am in the morning, mourning for their father. The letter of the law was kept but probably the spirit of the law was broken. The bereaved stayed on in the verandah till 6 am waiting for some means to transport the mortal remains of their dearest dad back to Shillong. You can imagine the trauma they went through. I saw their pain and tears as they narrated the event and so I thought it necessary to bring it to the notice of the authorities through this daily so that no other persons will have to face such a trauma in the future. I hope that those in charge will issue necessary instructions to the staff so that the rules will be obeyed not just in letter but also in spirit. Let the EMRI services always remain as a trauma mitigating than an ordeal creating agency.
Yours etc.,
Fr Devasia Vazhayil,
Via email
Let Sangma set at rest our identity
Editor,
It feels good when we hear that more and more regional parties are supporting the candidature of
P A Sangma for the Presidential polls in the country. Thanks to Dr Donkupar Roy for sticking to his word. The UDP has taken the right step by supporting Mr Sangma. However, it’s a pity that some of our very own tribesmen from Meghalaya are not in his favor. Remember, when we venture out of North East to other metros of the country, we always come across this common question, “Aap log India ke ho kya .. lagte toh nahi. Atcha toh yeh aapka state kaha par hain? (Are you from India? You don’t look like Indians .. So in which part of the country is your state?). Aren’t we fed up of answering such silly questions and that too from our own countrymen? I would definitely want Sangma to be the next President of India and let every Indian know that we are not aliens from another planet but we are very much Indians.
Yours etc.;
Firstborn C Marak
Former Secretary, (UDP Youth Wing)
Williamnagar City Unit