Editor,
It is indeed a feat for the State Information Technology Department in collaboration with NEHU’s Khasi department for developing an innovative and successful launch of basic computer modules in Khasi that would positively have an effect on many skilled yet deprived people in our rural areas. This is a significant achievement in helping to bridge the digital divide by breaking the language barrier and bringing the IT Revolution closer to the rural masses. We look forward to more such innovative ideas to come from the department and others which is a realistic step towards development.
From- Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong
German technology in PWD
Editor
The PWD Minister recently made a statement that his department is using German technology in our roads. I want say that the minister is 100% correct in his statement. The only thing he forgot to mention is this – the “German technology”he is using belongs to the 14th century when roads were constructed only with stones and earth without black-topping! Why else would the PWD be filling all potholes with rocks and mud only without a trace of asphalt? This is a monthly exercise carried out by PWD during the monsoon season and it keeps the contractors employed and happy, as also our minister. The rest of the people can go to hell as far as our honourable minister is concerned. And by the way, has anyone noticed the condition of the Umiam dam road? It resembles a WWII battlefield with shell-sized craters which are being religiously repaired with sticks and stones.
Yours etc.,
Robert Dkhar,
Via email
ILP and development
Dear Editor,
In this era of globalization, we cannot afford to live in an iron cage without suffering the consequence of neglect and zero development. Development comes through trade, through tourism, through removal of monopolistic policies and ‘red tapism’, through exchange of ideas and learning between diverse peoples, through creation of jobs, through setting up of good educational institutions providing world-class education and most importantly, by attracting major investments from within and outside the region. Therefore the social and investment climate needs to be conducive in order for development to take place.
If we consider how our state has fared on the development front in comparison to the rest of India, we would have to hang our heads in shame. Even without an Inner Line Permit system, Meghalaya has seen no meaningful development take place in the last 30 years. Despite all the sops being handed out by state and central government to attract investors, nothing of note has emerged. While neighbouring Assam is seeing unprecedented growth and development with major international businesses setting up shop all over the state, we in Meghalaya have been left in the dark. The reasons for this neglect are more socio-political than anything else. Large investors and business houses tend to shy away from places where there is social unrest, political instability, unfair policies and poor infrastructure, and all with good reason. We have already experienced the consequence of locking ourselves in a cage for the past few decades. And now our NGOs are proposing another roadblock to development – the Inner Line Permit system – which will effectively strangle all development. These self-appointed guardians of our society have already caused irreversible damage with their short-sighted, self-serving, politically motivated policies in the name of the indigenous people. Let us not be foolish a second time round and allow these NGOs to cause panic in the name of influx. Panic results in knee-jerk reactions, like the ILP. What we in Meghalaya need are sane minds taking logical rather than emotional decisions. The problem of influx is of our own making, caused by our own people, our own politicians and tribal leaders who have sacrificed us at the altar of greed. The ILP is a ‘development killer’ which will hardly address influx, given the penchant of those in power to sell their own people down the river. It will only breed new forms of corruption and remove us from the map of development altogether.
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Shillong
ILP the magic bullet?
Editor,
The Inner Line Permit is being touted as a magic wand against illegal migration by certain sections of society particularly the NGOs. In my opinion, the cons far outweigh the pros where the ILP is concerned. The ILP will reverse and arrest all meaningful development without addressing the basic issue. One scary outcome would be the legal empowerment of NGOs to arrest and evict “outsiders” at their whim and fancy without intervention of the government. This goes against the Constitution and such vigilantism cannot be permitted in a democratic society.
The Government is to blame for this state of affairs due its short-sighted policies. It has never taken the functioning of the infiltration department seriously. This department is largely seen as a white elephant which actually abets infiltration instead of the opposite. Corruption is rampant and the infiltration check-gates are nothing more than a joke. If we are really serious about solving the problem of illegal migration then all we have to do is strengthen the infiltration department and staff it with honest officers. Coupled with a viable identification system such as the proposed 3-Tier ID system this can be a powerful tool to tackle the issue. Let us not reinvent the wheel and make life complex and difficult when the solution is staring us in the face. The ILP has many inherent pitfalls and is definitely not a viable alternative.
Yours etc,
Justin Sangma
Shillong -4