Editor,
The NIT (National Institute of Technology ) was set up in Meghalaya and in some other states to address the manpower needs and provide professional avenues to young people. The intention of the Govt of India is correct. However there is a problem. For all NITs the Govt of India follows a common formula, again I believe with the good intention of being fair. The formula is basically — provide 50% of the seats to the host state and keep 50% open on an All India basis.
There are 90 seats in the NIT Meghalaya. (The permanent campus is at Sohra. Pending the completion of construction etc. the campus has been started in Bijni Complex, Bhagyakul, Laitumkhrah) There are three streams with 30 seats in each stream,(i) Computer Science & Engineering; (ii) Electronics & Communication Engineering; (iii) Electrical & Electronics Engineering. 15 seats in each stream is therefore meant for the state of Meghalaya. Following the All India pattern of population distribution, about 7% of the seats have been reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates. Of the 90 seats, 7 have been given to STs, half of which are for Meghalaya. This year, 2012, 4 ST seats have been reserved for Meghalaya, one each in E&EE and CS&E, and two in E&CE. It should however be noted that any ST candidate who has passed the qualifying examinations from a Meghalaya college will be treated as an ST candidate under the Meghalaya quota, irrespective of the state of domicile.
This information is available in the website: http://ccb.nic.in/ccb2012/aieeeseatinfo/Institutewise.aspx
Meghalaya has been given 22 seats under the ‘General’ category, 1 seat under ‘General & PD’, 6 seats under ‘SC’, 12 seats under ‘OBC’. Along with the 4 seats for STs the total is 45 for Meghalaya. Taking an All India formula will defeat the intention of providing educational avenues for the young people of Meghalaya. The Govt of India should not simply reproduce a formula which suits Uttar Pradesh or Andhra Pradesh in the North East. The population distribution here in Meghalaya has to be taken into account. 50% of the seats, meant for Meghalaya, should therefore be distributed according to the population distribution pattern of Meghalaya. Unless this is done it will defeat the spirit of the Constitution which seeks to provide special assistance to a less developed state like Meghalaya. In fact there is a possible ground for review of this formula, as applicable to Meghalaya, as it defeats the intention of the Constitution which seeks to protect the interests of the tribal population of Meghalaya. The Govt of India must be urged to re-examine this bureaucratically generated formula, failing which it will only reinforce the perception that the Govt of India has no genuine intention to safeguard the interests of the people of North Eastern India.
Yours etc.,
DM Pariat.
Shillong – 3
Fish sanctuaries
Editor,
I am glad that the government plans to have fish sanctuaries in the State. I presume that the idea is to protect and preserve the endangered indigenous species of fishes which are rare and unique only in the hill streams and rivers of the State and whose numbers have dwindled. It also perhaps means protection of stretches of miles and miles of river run which maintain the natural flow pattern and set the cues for the indigenous fish to breed and to stimulate breeding migration. It would also mean maintaining at best a favourable natural condition in the catchments of these rivers as any form of detrimental activity in the catchment will have an adverse impact on the fish population in the rivers as well . Therefore I am not sure as to what the Fishery Department means when it speaks of having a target for “construction of 100 numbers of sanctuaries,” with fish farmers participation (ST 12th September 2012) If this means constructing dams and converting flowing rivers into reservoirs and releasing of exotic fishes into such reservoirs then these may thrive at the cost of the indigenous species. Water in the reservoirs have a profoundly different hydrological character than the flowing water in rivers to which the indigenous species have adapted to. Flowing river also provides numerous habitats like niches, riffles, runs and deep pools for a variety of fishes. Fish require flood pulses and drought signals as spawning cues. Temperature and light penetration are also important factors for their sustenance. Dams and barrages change all of these factors and also pose barriers to fish migrations. Because of a series of dams that have come up in the river Myntdu near Jowai there is every possibility that the popular local “Kha Myntdu ” will in no time become extinct from this stretch of the river .
“Constructed sanctuaries” are not expected to promote tourism as tourists will not come all the way to Meghalaya only to see fishes in artificially created reservoirs . Angling will promote tourism. But then adventurous anglers would prefer the natural water of rivers. That is why the rivers within many forest reserves and sanctuaries in India attract anglers from all over the world within specified seasons. There is still ample scope to convert some of our rivers into fish sanctuaries .We need specific plan of action with adequate resources for measures and for encouraging local bodies and Fishery Associations to participate in the process. I do hope that we make an urgent approach on the matter.
Yours etc.,
KL Tariang,
Shillong-3