Editor,
In the recently concluded Mr Meghalaya Body Building Championships held on 15th September at Aurobindo Institute for Indian Culture, petty favoritism and outright vindictive judging was on full display as deserving competitors were ignored and the judges and the favourites of the judges and organizers were handed medals and trophies sporadically.
The judging panel’s credibility is also questionable as the judges were not former bodybuilding champions nor are they officials from an outside impartial bodybuilding federation. All these years the norm was to get qualified judges from Guwahati but that suddenly and mysteriously stopped. Also a “new rule” was created barring the former Mr.Meghalaya of 3 years Vikash Chauhan from competing this year.
When a sincere athelete or bodybuilder puts in his all (his blood and sweat) what he expects in return is to be judged fairly, not to be given more or less, but what he rightfully deserves. One hopes that next time the organizers of this show will realize that and do justice to the competitors.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Safety of school going children
Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authority to the insecurity faced by school children travelling by buses across the city of Shillong.
The buses used for commuting the school children are invariably crowded. The children are pushed inside these cramped buses like chickens and are loaded in tempos and trucks. The school authorities have their eyes fixed on money and profits rather than on the safety and security of the children. Before any untoward incident takes place the authorities should take some strict measures regarding the movement of school children in school buses. Rules should be made so that the children are taken in a bus strictly according to the seating capacity. If necessary extra buses should be purchased both by the school authorities as well as by the government. To monitor the procedure check-posts can be installed throughout the city. After all these children should have a safe and secure school life.
I therefore urge upon the concerned authority to initiate such steps that would ensure the safety and security of the children going by school buses.
Yours etc.,
Baishali Misra
Illegal influx
Editor,
We are sorry to hear that our State has reservations about the Inner Line Permit (ILP). This is the system to check illegal migrants. Without a system influx will only increase. Influx cannot be compromised for the purpose of the market because even today illegal migrants are doing flourishing business in our State and it is no problem for them to get their permanent residential certificate. Let us take the example of Sikkim. It is a thriving tourist destination but visitors have to prove their identity at the gate at Rangpo. They have to show their Identity Card/Voters identity card/Pan card/Pass port/Visa, etc. Anyone who enters the State either by bus/sumo/private vehicle etc is properly checked at the check gate by uniformed men who are sincere about their duties. These security men have their own tactics to identify the students as well.
No doubt our State has a potential for tourism and is the educational hub of the region, but when the system is in place it will work well. Students who come to study here from other States move around without doubt or fear because they carry with them all related documents of identity. We suggest that the correct system for checking influx be introduced immediately.
Yours etc.,
Truce Nongkhlaw,
Bethel Suchiang &
Justom Dkhar
Shillong-3