Corporate kindergartens
A particular private financial company has recently tied-up with some city based kindergarten schools to source its schemes to the parents of the children studying in these schools. The company’s ploy was, however, quite infantile. They called up parents to inform that their ward has done well in a drawing competition organised recently by the Company in some schools and invited them to collect the certificate from its office. But the caller also made sure that both parents accompanied their wards and asked them their monthly income and whether they were both working. The unsuspecting children were overjoyed as they flocked in large numbers to the company’s office at the allotted time. But they only realised the real objective of the Company on reaching its office. The visiting parents and guardians were shown various child related life insurance schemes and how their children would be safe and free from financial encumbrances as they grow up and touch the sky. One common thing that this company, which also produces iron among many other items, said was that the sky is the limit for the children if they buy their schemes. When the parents enquired about the certificates the predatory employees of the company who were only interested in achieving their targets told them that certificates would only be given if they buy the schemes. The parents realised they were cheated and returned without the certificates. Why should schools patronise such companies anyway?
A ritual of violence?
The April 4 KSU sponsored Khasi Awakening Day to mark its 35th anniversary turned out to be a rude awakening pogrom. A student studying in Delhi University said she and other tribes from Meghalaya have had to answer uncomfortable questions from their fellow students in Delhi. They have been taunted about the slogan, “Khasi by birth, Indian by accident,” and asked what they have to say about living off the Indian taxpayers money. The students in Delhi, Bangalore etc. have sent messages back home that such actions could lead to a backlash elsewhere since news travels fast and social network sites are full about the violence on unsuspecting citizens on the streets and the vandalism on shops etc. That the Khasi youth have been in traditional attire has not only portrayed them in bad light world over but also the entire Khasi society as the news spread like plague through Twitter, and captured on camera wearing their traditional attire made someone comment if all this was part of the ritual to commit violence. That the administration erred in allowing the procession in the evening goes without saying. But that the police too were unprepared for the violence leaves many bewildered.