Editor,
I wonder whether we really need Governors in this day and age. They seem to serve no useful purpose and are merely a strain on our national resources. In Delhi when there was a public outcry to remove the Police Commissioner, the Lt. Governor to whom the said officer was answerable to, did nothing. Here when we have a very private complaint from a member of his staff the Governor ensures that the SP of a district is not only transferred out but hands over charge in less than a week.
Claudia Lyngwa is an upright officer and has served the society well at all times. Her bravery courage and dedication need no certificates from me. She has been awarded gallantry medals by the Offices of the Governor(ironic isn’t it) and the President. When such officers are punished out of proportion it sends a wrong message to the police force. I am surprised that the DG has permitted this to happen and has not stood up for his officer. But perhaps there is something wrong with the caliber of all our senior officials alike. It therefore does not surprise us to see honest officers like the previous Army Chief joining public protests. Upright officers like Gen V K Singh are eased out early and others who serve only their own interests or that of their political masters are rewarded. Such officers should belong to a separate cadre called In-house Private Security.
Being an ex NDA cadet who got boarded out on medical grounds I feel fortunate that I never served such a sycophantic system.
Yours etc.,
Paramjit Bakhshi,
Via email
The politics of admission
Editor,
The list of selected candidates for admission into KG class of Pine Mount School for this academic session is yet to come out. We have come to know from sources that the file containing the list of selected candidates is still held by the Education Minister, Government of Meghalaya. The sources suspect that he may tinker with the list. The concerned citizens of Meghalaya are worried that it will lead to irregular practices ignoring the genuine candidates selected. We have the right to know what he ( The Education Minister) is doing with the file ? We wonder why a mere file regarding admission into the school has to go to the Education Minister? Is this another case of tampering? Of course when it comes to Pine Mount School the Government thinks it owns the school
Yours etc.,
Hamkheinke Lyngdoh
Shillong-3
Money on loan to pvt contractors?
Editor,
It is a very bad move on the part of the Government’s to decide to loan money to private contractors . Isn’t there any financial advisor to the Government? How does this pipe dream come about? It is not that the State Government is exactly flowing with idle capital that can be loaned to private contractors-with or without interest. When the State has to rely on funds from the Centre without any worthwhile revenue of its own where is the money going to come from ? Already we have seen most of the North Eastern states including Meghalaya defaulting on so many central schemes because they are unable to match the contributions from the Centre though that matching grants is as low as 10-20 %. Taking the stated example of beautification of Shillong being delayed due to bankruptcy of the contractor, there should be a probe instead why such a big and reputed project was given to a contractor who just did not have the wherewithal to do it. Or was he relying on divine help in the garb of some human beings ? Already we can surmise which kind of people will take advantage of such offerings. God help us! Or perhaps all of us should encourage such projects so that the entire strata of contractors-those who really need finance get some help out of such schemes. Why 20 crores ? Why not 100 crores?
Yours etc.,
Nesfield Sangma,
Via email