Editor,
As one of the aspiring candidates appearing for the written test for the Post of LDA/LDA-Cum-Receptionist (in the offices of Meghalaya House at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai )held on the Aug 18 2012, I sat for the test in St Anthony’s School, Laitumkhrah (Room NO.9E). In the second session half an hour into the exams, two boys whose Roll Nos are between the numbers 339- 345, that too in the front row were caught by the invigilator gazing through solved books and General Knowledge texts. The outcome was that they were mildly chided by invigilator to keep them away and they were allowed to continue. Honestly, I hold nothing against the invigilator. His sole intention was to give the boys a chance to compete. There are just two things that concern me – One, the rules in the Admit Card clearly states, “Using unfair means shall result in disqualification. Two, I shall be gravely disappointed if because of their half hour daring mischief they better my performance and a few months from now they will be greeting me if I happen to set foot at one of the Meghalaya Houses or see them as LDAs. Finally, one suggestion I have is that no candidate should be allowed to visit the toilet during exam hours because it disturbs the other candidates and because its no ‘Nature’s Call’ really, but an attempt to consult books or ring up friends for answers. The reason I am saying this is because before a candidate goes to the toilet he/she is simply staring at the ceiling because the brain does not work but after returning from the toilet they seem to be refreshed by that one line of WH Davies’ poem – “What is this life if full of care/ There is no time to stand and stare.” I simply hope someone will take heed and address my grievances.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request.
Why this bias Mr DFO?
Editor
Apropos to your news report, “Export of lime stone from Jaintia Hills halted” (ST Aug 28, 2012) the supreme court while delivering its verdict did not specifically state that lime stone quarried from the West Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya alone requires environmental clearance. The law pertains to the whole of India in particular and Meghalaya state in general. While quarrying of lime stone in Jaintia Hills District is not confined to Nongtalang and adjoining areas, it was quarried and supplied to Cement Factories through individual quarries located at Lumshnong and other areas. Again, limestone quarries are located not only in Jaintia Hills but also in Southern parts of Khasi Hills District too. The question that arises is whether the Supreme Court order applies only to those quarries at Nongtalang? Will the Minister for Environment and Forests and Mr. Agrahari DFO (T) in particular kindly clarify? I do agree that use of gelatine sticks and dynamite in quarry areas should be banned but why question the use of machinery? Just because the quarries are located in remote areas and the quarry owners are illiterate so they do not have the right to use modern machineries? Is the DFO concerned not prejudiced against the owners of limestone mines in Nongtalang? Otherwise why would he halt mining and demand environmental clearance from quarries located at Nongtalang area while he is silent about other quarrying areas that supply lime stone to cement factories? Is the DFO acting as an agent of the cement factories and taking our Forest Department for a ride?
Is it not true that the DFO spends long hours with the agents of cement factories in his office chamber with the idea of converting Nongtalang into another Lumshnong? If the officer is so keen to preserve our forests owned by individuals he should take up the matter with the Government of Meghalaya so that the Supreme Court order is applied throughout the State and not only in some pockets.
Further, I would like to remind the Minister and the DFO that the Supreme Court had in 2005 directed that only sawmills cleared by the High Powered Committee (HPC) should move to Industrial estates and be allowed to functions while the rest should be closed down. The same Court Order was applied in the state of Meghalaya only in 2010. Sawmills located right under the nose of the Forest Department at Ladthlaboh, Mih Myntdu and Phra Mer could not be closed down. Hundreds of sawmills are in operation in the whole of Jaintia hills but the Department is silent. Why then is the Supreme Court order not be kept in abeyance till 2019 and in the meantime work out procedures for getting environmental clearance for these quarries?By suddenly halting the movement of limestone to Bangladesh thousands of local managers and labourers working in these quarries are jobless. Besides, the quarry owners have made huge investments to extract limestone. All this money will now go down the drain. Let the court order be applied to the whole of Meghalaya or let the Order for halting export of limestone to Bangladesh be suspended.
Yours etc,
Dahun Sumer & others
Via email
Reservation Policy
Editor,
Even if we are adversely affected by the Reservation policy, but as Meghalayans we are not averse to the 40% job reservation policy of the State and there have never been a time when we had agitational programmes on this issue. However, in retrospect, perhaps it is high time for the policy makers to look into another aspect which is the pursuance of higher studies. In this dog eat dog world of competition, I think something needsto be drastically rectified like cut off marks at the State level for pursuing higher studies like Engineering and Medicine. Perhaps, my fellow
Meghalayans would not mind if the cut off percentage for Engineering is 60% and for Medicine 75%. This suggestion is mooted without any prejudice to any section of people taking into consideration the present scenario where we can no longer classify anyone as the ‘weaker section’. Please take this suggestion as a measure of progress and development.
Yours etc.,
L Kharkongor
Shillong – 4