In recent days, Vincent Pala has catapulted himself into the Shillong mind. Little was known about this man, except that he dealt in coal and was a PWD engineer. As can be expected it was a deadly combination and we can see the results now, and of course this whole minister thing too adds to net worth I’m led to believe. Apparently, he and his family have bought most of Lachumiere leading some to call it “Palamiere”. He also has large tracts of land in Laban and Sohra etc. His rise to prominence has been meteoric but let us never forget the ‘hidden old ones’ who are perhaps more powerful and wealthier than Pala.
Many people who live in the East of Shillong (thain mihngi) probably don’t want to admit to themselves that actually their localities are owned en masse by a few kwai-eating, Iewduh-knowing, galli Hindi spewing villager-merchants. These people unlike Pala come up only once in a while in Shillong Times. Comically enough, when they get robbed while on their way to the bank, or some such thing. They are your Modrinas, your Rapsangs among others. People who have been accruing power and wealth for years now; people who get things done without it making to the newspapers. These families basically control Police Bazaar, Nongthymmai, Laitumkhrah, Nongrim Hills, Laban – they are the true owners of Shillong. The time has come, I think, when we should seriously have a limit to land ownership in the state. We are finding out the hard way that the Land Transfer Act is really not enough.
If only these few tycoons are able to acquire any and all liveable and commercial land, where would others set up business affordably? They decide for you. Where would we live? Again they would decide. Few would be able to resist. It seems we cannot fight this in Old Shillong but perhaps the newer parts offer us that option. If the government protects the interests of the lower and middle classes! But I am pretty sure these wealthy ones have already encamped in and around New Shillong as well. There are two options that arise out of this large-scale ownership. One, that these zamindars resist temptation of money and rent out land at affordable rates and spread joy among their subjects so we all love each other and smoke weed on the lawn, happy. The other option, and more realistic, is that locals won’t be able to foot the monthly rent, in which case, we become powerless to stop them from making use of their private property in whatever way they envision – it will not be a vision we can all share in. Private property laws need to be strengthened in favour of the majority not these select few. Transfer Laws can be bent if these people want them to be bent. Before they become too big (or smarter) we need to restrict them. As someone recently pointed out, land IS the most important thing we, tribal people, have. The Land Transfer Act was supposed to protect us from threats from the outside; however we are under threat from within, from “our own people”. These people do not care about “jaidbynriew” (race), they care about money, plain and simple. Perhaps we should turn more to the old systems by which I insist that Dorbar Shnong should be very strict when it comes to allowing the sale of land to these types of people. They should also scrutinise what is the intent and why these businessmen want or need that land. There’s a big difference. In the old days, anyone interested in moving into another village or neighbourhood was cross-examined extensively. Sadly, “development” has destroyed this and made it all formal and legal and thus hidden away from the public eye. Why not be a little bit more conscientious about our surroundings and most importantly about our neighbours? Ask around, enquire. Ignorance is not bliss, it is being powerless. Isn’t the issue of land ownership a worthy one to flag aloft in the upcoming elections?
Yours etc.,
Babet Sten
Via email
Money in elections
Editor,
Money is like a communicable disease because now every candidate who wants to contest an election needs money no matter how much he/she wants to serve the people. In the past we heard that money works especially in villages during elections. People take the money and vote a particular candidate but this has now come to the city too. Even educated people don’t vote a candidate who does not have or give them money. If we are all like this then it is very dangerous to our state. People who win elections with money power will count rupee by rupee what they had spent during elections. And they will do so from schemes meant for our development. .
It is time to choose Development not Money because no one can buy your vote at any cost. If we are really good citizens and want our state to develop then it is time to step up and choose our candidates wisely. That’s the only way to development.
Yours etc.,
Ioanis Kurbah,
Shillong-8
Clarification
Editor,
Thank you for covering the function and reporting clearly the status of mental health care. However, I wish to make a clarification in that Dr. D D Lapang is in fact a steadfast supporter and benefactor of SAN-KER. However, Dr. Donkupar Roy had not visited SAN-KER as Chief Minister and did not support us even though he was in a position to do so. I would be obliged if you could kindly issue a correction on this.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Sandi Syiem