Editor,
I appreciate the report, “Shillong Bypass Reflects Quality Change in Roads in State” (ST 02/04/2013) highlighted in your esteemed daily. The quality of the Bypass is indeed commendable. Those who witnessed the narrow, poorly planned, delayed, incomplete road four years ago will have a better appreciation of the present one. Besides being wide and smooth, the various safety measures will go a long way in avoiding accidents as well as facilitating emergency help to commuters in need. While congratulating Dr. Mukul Sangma for this, we only hope that this is a standard that is set for other road projects in our state. Petty politics and selfish interests should not be obstacles for development and progress.
Yours etc,
George S. Lyngkhoi
Shillong – 08
Students’ unions revisited
Editor,
Generally students’ unions are organisations made up of students who are normally in college and universities. In some cases school going students are also members of students’ unions. Students’ unions are now part and parcel of the political processes in almost every country of the world. Meghalaya too has a number of these kinds of unions. Going by the nomenclature, students’ unions are supposed to represent the student community and address their problems. However, this is not to say that they cannot represent the community at large. They are also called pressure groups because they tend to put pressure on the authorities concerned to get their grievances redressed. In the context of Meghalaya, students’ unions may be said to be community based because almost every community tends to have its own students’ union. Among the prominent students’ unions in Meghalaya are the KSU, GSU and the JSU. Nonetheless, different regions of Meghalaya also have other students’ bodies other than these. Coming to the issues; students’ unions in Meghalaya have taken up pertinent issues like influx, ILP, environment conservation, corruption, preservation of culture and traditions, more admission for the locals in different educational institutions, boundary disputes, employment etc. These are all important issues concerning the state of Meghalaya. I am thankful to the altruistic yeoman’s service that these young people are giving to the students and the community in the state.
My questions to you here are : What have you done with regard to the plight that your teachers are facing be it for the unnecessary delay of payment, arrears, meagre salary/payment, denial of allowances, pensions and other benefits? Don’t you think that teachers’ problems can also be felt by you? I mean if teachers strike or agitate leaving away the classes, are you enjoying? If teachers don’t go for scripts evaluation and the results come out late, are you enjoying your prolonged holidays? Do admissions outside the state hang around with your results? You are the children of our beautiful state and you deserve the best because the future holds good only because of you. Do you know that the teaching profession in your state is a danger zone for anyone to tread in? Those who do have to feel the thorns all along the way and I say dangerous because teachers are supposed to starve for months. What do you expect from a danger zone my dear friends?
Have you watched the recent Ri Khasi channel news picturing the glorious 48 years stagnation of the Shillong Polytechnic? Do your scholarships come on time, not to speak of enhancement? How many of you can afford to study outside the state? Have you raised a question on the education policy matters of the state? The answers for these questions are not available in your classrooms. You are smart students and I am sure you know very well where the answers and solutions lie. Dear friends, you need to revisit your aims and objectives and do a search if not research on students’/education related problems in the state and move accordingly otherwise your relevance as students’ unions is at stake. I must say that as students’ unions you should have students’ related issues at the top of your list else you should be simply called ‘youth organisations’. On the other hand, teachers’ associations should also play a role for the cause of students’ issues and agenda. Teachers are supposed to be the best voice to address the problems of the students since they are experts in the field. Teaching is given whereas learning is sought. Therefore, a symbiosis and synergy between the givers and the seekers is very important for the sake of education in the state.
Yours etc…
Airpeace Rani
Shillong-04
Life’s not always lived on a fast lane
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily, I would like to bring to the notice of those fast lane motorists and automobile owners of Tura town that speeding does not help them reach their destination faster. It only adds to the prevailing menace for pedestrians and other motorists on the road. We are living in the 21st century which by far has seen the most advancement of technology in every sphere including the automobile industry. Simultaneously, safe driving techniques are being developed and the necessity of knowing and adhering to them are being constantly stressed upon by the media, police and elsewhere. We are privileged to know them but most of us exhibit no respect for the rules whatsoever and instead of abiding by them, seem to make new ones of our own along the way. “To Each His Own” is a nice concept but not applied in every circumstance, certainly not on narrow, serpentine hilly roads.
Tura is a small and beautiful town which we all should adore. We know by now how difficult life is in a big city and the amount of distance and time that is required to travel to and fro from office, school, bazaar etc. This is a wakeup call for the concerned authorities and masses as well, to keep an eye not only on non licensed motorists but also on speeding vehicles. Overtaking in bends and corners should be strictly discouraged. In a nut shell all motorists and automobile owners should know at least basic traffic rules and signals.
Why run our life on a fast lane when we all know we will reach our destination in due time, not a second earlier or a second later. Let’s enjoy the ride with a smile on our faces.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Debabrata Das
Tura