Editor,
It is sad to read the negative news report in the Shillong jottings of your esteemed Daily, with regards to the Flash Mob organised on the 22nd December at Khyndailad by Walk With 9 Lives (WW9L), Knack Movement and Meghalaya xBhp to promote the festive Christmas feeling, peace and good-will. It is wrong on the part of the media to compare the peaceful and cheering flash mob dance by the children to protests, crimes, riots and violence. We wish to inform that no private property was destroyed, no riot occurred, no violence was started, no harm caused to anybody and no such intentions even arose. The kids who volunteered to perform and display their talents, instead, managed to bring cheers, smiles and good feelings.
And yes, we did make better use of time to support the poor, the abandoned, the aged, the orphans and the street children through “voluntary” gift collections. Also the WW9L had secured permission from the Deputy Commissioner for the flash mob and the public should not be misled by the information that the DC was unaware. We appreciate and thank the DC for his good spirit and for understanding the motive of the 10 min flash mob. As a matter of fact, no shoppers showed disappointment and those who witnessed the free show enjoyed the talented moves of the performers and cheered along with them. No traffic congestion occurred due to the 10 minute program that was held between Delhi Mistan tea stall and MUDA complex. It is very unfortunate that your esteemed daily has reported so negatively.
Yours etc.,
Walk With 9 Lives
KNACK Movement (Dance Crew) and
Meghalaya xBhp
Editor replies: Firstly, by definition a flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression. Hence a pre-Christmas performance for generating goodwill should not have been termed a Flash Mob. We have only echoed the common persons’ voices. We hold no brief for or against any group. But the crowded Khyndailad in the midst of the heavy jostling for last minute Christmas shopping is hardly the place for a street play/ flash mob, no matter how noble or novel the idea. Anything that causes inconvenience to people is news. We never contested that the DC granted permission. But propriety overrides all laws. We had stated this earlier and the matter ends here.
Income tax and tribals
Editor,
I fully endorse Kong Patricia Mukhim’s recent editorial on the payment of income tax by tribals residing in Meghalaya and elsewhere. The rampant corruption that is being seen here in Meghalaya can only be reduced by the introduction of income tax. Too many people are getting away with their ill gotten gains as no questions can be asked about their source of income hence the uncontrolled construction of concrete monsters and fabulous mansions by people with limited salaries so much so that money has, in, many cases, become the end all and be all. Payment of income tax will bring in many positive improvements, the first being the stopping of splashing or throwing away of cash that has not been earned honestly as anyone seen splashing money around will be questioned by the tax authorities. Amongst other benefits will be the ending of marriages of convenience i.e. marriage of a tax payer to a tribal non tax payer for the sake of avoiding income tax while doing business. To ensure that lower income groups do not suffer, the income tax cut off point could be raised to a reasonable level. Another step that should be taken is the introduction of a law which will force workers above a certain salary level in the state to file their income tax returns while the decision to introduce income tax is being studied.
Yours etc.,
D.M.Pariat,
Shillong-3