Editor,
While expressing grave discontent over the fact that a letter (captioned as above) has been published in your esteemed daily, I would like to request your kind self to divulge the name, telephone number and other details of the author so that the school authorities may interact with him/her regarding ascertaining the validity of the contents etc. As you are a very responsible and highly respected citizen, I am sure you will appreciate the fact that such letters, if published without authentication of contents only lead to harsh misinterpretation of facts about an esteemed institution.
Most humbly I would like to request you not to publish such items without prior dialogues with the concerned authorities since they always hold the preventable risk of tarnishing the image of an institution.
Parents truly concerned about the discipline of the institution generally substantiate their views with evidence and discuss such matters with school authorities instead of publishing derogatory statements in public forums. Therefore it can be understood that the only interest of the author is to sabotage the image of the institution at all cost.
Besides imparting education, an institution also holds a high moral responsibility in the Society. I am sure your kind self will appreciate this view and help us to further develop this unique institution of the North East. In case of inability on your part to reveal the author’s true identity, the school will be left with no option but to take up this matter as permissible lawfully.
Yours etc.,
D Halder
Vice Principal
Assam Rifles Public School
Shillong
Editor replies: The ‘letters to the editor’ column is a responsible platform where citizens can air their grievances. This parent who wrote has requested anonymity for obvious reasons. It would be in the fitness of things that the Institution introspects on the grievances expressed by the parents/guardians instead of reacting against what appears in these columns.
Anti-corruption body
Editor,
Apropos the letter by Michael N. Syiem, I strongly agree that our state Meghalaya desperately needs a strong and independent anti corruption body like the Lokayukta. We are one of the unfortunate states in India that does not have one. No wonder we seldom witness effective governance and corruption free policies. But then they (bureaucrats & politicians) will argue that we have the State Vigilance Commission which will look into matters of corruption. I think everyone should know that this is a toothless organization headed by the chief secretary and has no powers to charge-sheet, prosecute or pro-actively investigate corruption, which means it cannot do anything and of course it will not do anything despite the many facts that are out in the open. Slow infrastructure development, unemployment, militancy, poor health care, deteriorating living condition in the rural areas can all be attributed to ineffective governance and rampant corruption. We all acknowledge that the system is corrupt and many of us have even chosen to become part of this system. But is this the kind of city we want to live in and bring up our kids or do we sometime wish we lived in a developed city just like the ones we used to see on TV? I say the time is never too late to demand the right thing. Imagine a strong and independent anti corruption body in the state of Meghalaya! It will inflict a lot of damage on corruption but most importantly it will bring some sense of discipline and efficiency in governance. We can all look at the state of Karnataka, it has one of the country most effective Lokayukta and one of the states recorded with the highest growth rates in terms of GDP and per capita GDP in the last decade compared to any other states in India. Let’s all together save our city and our state from this virus.
Yours etc.,
B.Kharbuli
Shillong – 6
Public transport
Editor,
I subscribe to thes view put forth by Mary Lousie Kharmawphalang that public transport is for all. If function can be impressive, application too should be inclusive and not Laitumkhrah centric. In fact 44.42 percent of the population who resids in urban East Khasi Hills should be provided the benefit of bus services provided for under the flagship programme of the Government of India. Kharmawphlang has also rightly called for display of bus numbers and name of destination, timetable board display at all main stations et al.
Yours etc.,
VK Lyngdoh
Via email