Editor,
Let me first congratulate you on your article published this Friday, 22nd March, 2013, under the caption, “Non tribals in Meghalaya – non citizens or half citizens?” I fully endorse the views expressed by you in that article. Parochialism/chauvinism is the best emotion for rabble rousing, and this has been practised to raise mobs to a frenzy throughout history. However, it is also born out of a genuine fear for self survival. And, unless this fear is addressed it will continue to be the best political plank. Civil society, the government and the district administration will do well to identify and address the reasons for this fear. If it stems from a lack of self confidence then let us try to build up the confidence of our people to compete with anybody – tribal or non tribal. Reservations on communal lines will only aggravate the issue. See how reservation on tribal lines has affected the relationship between the different indigenous tribes of Meghalaya.
What we fail to see, in the case of the election of our Speaker, is that it is a genuine citizen of Meghalaya who is occupying the Chair. Just as it is a genuine citizen of the State who is our Chief Minister! If we go beyond that then we are in danger of fragmenting ourselves. We are proud of Mr J M Lyngdoh who was the Chief Election Commissioner of the Nation. He reached that high office because he had merited that post as an efficient citizen of the country. If the criteria had been whether he belonged to any majority community or not, then we would have missed out on many of his contributions.
I would urge on all those who understand the issue and who care for our State to join hands in building up the self confidence of the common man. Let us pave the way to see that he gets the required skills as well as the required work culture, so that he gets the opportunities to have a decent life as per his capabilities without fearing for his own, or his children’s, future. Then nobody will be able to take advantage of that fear and play the communal card for personal mileage.
Yours etc.,
RG Lyngdoh,
Shillong-793003
Higher education outside Meghalaya
Editor,
Through your esteemed newspaper I would like to bring out an issue that is largely missed out from public discourse. This is the issue of our children leaving for higher studies after completing their 12th standard or after graduation. It is a known fact that almost 70% of students venture out of the state for higher studies but how many of us are aware of the fact that students and parents who venture out on their own to seek admissions outside are often duped by unscrupulous elements. A trend has also been recently noticed where some dubious persons come and set up shop in Hotels and advertise locally and get parents to pay hefty admission amounts. What happens after that is anybody’s guess. That is where the role of local admission guidance providers comes in.
It is imperative to have local education consultants for the students who fancy pursuing their higher education outside North-east India. This is important for parents and students to acquaint themselves with the basic intricacies involved in studying outside the state. Education consultants in Shillong should also make sure that they internalise the Admission guidance and rules and to proffer safety tips and techniques which will assist them in acclimatizing in a new region. They can also help with financial estimation and proper course selection.
Apart from the education part, they could also help in finding accommodation options and offer travel advisories. A counsellor can be of great help to the apprentice by endowing him with an assortment of custom tailored solutions which are devised, keeping in mind the student’s financial stamina. I would request all parents and students to avail the services of these local consultants before making a decision to study outside, lest they land up in trouble.
Yours etc.,
D Dkhar,
Via email
Good show Ardent!
Editor,
HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit is posing some tough questions and no one seems to have any answers. The flippant reply given by the Urban Affairs Minister to a very valid question on segregation of waste at source deserves to be condemned. It proves that the minister does not have the right attitude or knowledge to tackle the problem and instead indulges in cheap shots to silence her opposition. She appears to have become over confident, having won the election and thereby effectively burying the CBI report (temporarily, at least) containing her transgressions on government teachers’ appointments. If one were to assess Kong Ampareen’s performance during her earlier tenure, one would hardly find anything of note to crow about. Even the garbage collection system which was launched with much fanfare, is dying its natural death. The roads are still littered due non-arrival of garbage vans on most days. Shouldn’t she then be taking her duties a lot more seriously than she has done so far?
Yours etc.,
James Pariat
Shillong