Editor,
The recent melee regarding the recruitment examinations conducted by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) for the posts of Research Assistants is yet another case of gross incompetence on the part of the Commission and worst is that they never seem to learn from their mistakes. As one of the candidates appearing for the said exam, I was dismayed at the way in which the whole affair was handled. Due to sheer carelessness of the highest order, the Commission doesn’t seem to know even the total number of candidates who applied for the post and who duly paid the required fees, because had they known the total number of candidates, they would have correctly supplied the question papers on the exam date. It is really strange to know that they took almost one year to conduct the exams from the date of advertisement. I wonder what these people are paid for. Now the candidates-particularly those coming from far flung areas- must demand compensation for the loss of time, money, energy and effort because it was no fault of theirs. The exam fees of Rs 175 is perhaps one of the highest one has to pay for a recruitment exam since other recruiting bodies are conducting it either free of cost or one has to pay only a postal charge of Rs 50. The UPSC, SSC, IBPS, etc are conducting recruitment exams regularly on an all-India basis but had never given the kind of excuses or shown carelessness like the MPSC. Now it would be our pleasure if these exams are outsourced to competent recruiting bodies to regain the trust of the candidates since credibility of the Commission has taken a lot of beating in recent times. I wonder whether the Chairman and/or Secretary of the Commission are here for some serious revamping work or they are in for some free meals. I hope the government would not turn the MPSC into another dumping ground for retired bureaucrats and failed politicians.
Yours etc..,
Aggrieved candidate
Alcoholism on the rise
Editor,
It is embarrassing for an onlooker to witness drunkards both male and female unabashedly displaying disregard for themselves and becoming a menace to others. As I was passing Motphran at around 9:00 pm last week I was so ashamed to see drunkards parading the road waiting for cabs. One of the women was so drunk that she could barely walk. She was clinging on to anybody and anything for support. I am unable to comprehend as to what could have gone so wrong in her life that the nurturer of the hearth and home should fall prey to this venom. I shudder to think of the pain and embarrassment of the family members. Alcohol has claimed a number of lives in our city especially in cases of drunken driving. The menace is growing with every passing day as now even young people succumb to this evil. Thus it has to be controlled and contained. One wonders if the government could step in and enforce stringent laws that could curb this vice. There should also be many more rehabilitation centers to help those who wish to give up this bad habit. Perhaps it’s about time that genuine NGOs and we as a society at large could come together and help sort out this social evil.
Yours etc.,
Dr Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Communal volcano explodes
Editor,
Kokrajhar is not a random coincidence; it is a situation which has evolved from years of deliberate negligence by both the Central and successive Governments in Assam order to reap political benefits. Kokrajhar is a classic example of the Assam Government’s policy in dealing with territorial disputes. One of the Assam Government’s dirty tricks in dealing with disputed land is by promoting large scale infiltration and settlement of foreign illegal immigrants in those disputed areas. The main objective of these immigrants is to vote for a particular party, change the demographic scenario and cause law and order problems by creating communal tension which will jeopardize any move by any party or people or state to solve territorial disputes politically and peacefully. It is because of the above reasons that the Assam Government has systematically relocated illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to Kokrajhar and other districts which fall under Bodoland. The same thing is happening in Langpih (Meghalaya), where the Assam Government protects and promotes illegal immigrants from Nepal to settle and create chaos there. What is happening in Kokrajhar district of Assam is a communal volcanic explosion caused by territorial greed and cheap politics. It is unfortunate, but what is even more scary is that more of these volcanoes all over Assam and its border states are active and are on the verge of exploding.
Yours etc.,
Arki Wahlang,
Via email