Editor,
Apropos the letter to the editor by Michael N. Syiem (ST April 25, 2013), I am not convinced with his affectations. Firstly, it would have been appropriate for a former leader of the KSU had he accepted the menace of the April 4th incident shown an openness to address the loopholes in the Union by handing over those people responsible for the reprehensible act to the police.
Secondly, the existence of Pressure Groups (PG) and NGOs is essential to a democratic system. These groups keep government on track. Even in parliament, the presence of opposition parties serves this purpose. PGs & NGO’s bring checks and balances in a democracy and also give the government new insights on policy making while also safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people.
In his second point, where Mr Syiem felt offended by the ‘communal’ tag on the KSU’s latest act, he should take cognizance that scores of our own people also poured their anger and condemned this act, because they felt that the love for community which implies hatred for others is parochialism at its worst.
The third point, suggesting that KSU’s role is not only to fight for justice but for building leadership qualities in youth to produce future leaders of the state is arguable. If that is the real aspiration of KSU, then what happened to some of the leaders of the Union who after joining politics have forgotten their principles? More over this act of vandalism would have not happened, had the Union really inspired its followers and if its leaders led from the front beginning with love and respect for fellow human beings.
On the bright side, everyone knows that KSU and other NGO’s are playing a very constructive and productive role for the society at large. Kudos to the volunteers behind the scenes! But being the front runners of the society it would have been good to see them live by example.
Yours etc.,
Sonie Kharduit,
Shillong-21
Democratic decentralization
Editor
Mr Fabian Lyngdoh, KHADC chairman, rightly deserves congratulations for his free, frank, forthright and fearless piece about “A Call for Sober Thinking” (ST April 19, 2013). Most people agree to his courageous and apolitical statement that protection of tribal and cultural traditions can be achieved even without the Sixth Schedule. He correctly cited an exemplary illustration of the Naga people who rejected the Sixth Schedule since its inception. The Nagas have been able to protect their identity and culture under their State Government and their Village Councils which accept the amalgamation of traditions and modernity.
Mr Lyngdoh also cited another exemplary illustration of the Mizos who courageously abolished their traditional chieftainships lock, stock and barrel and introduced instead the Village Councils (with inclusion of women representatives) which are successfully run under the State Government with regular elections.
The Village Councils are the real demonstration of democratic decentralization and community participation at the grassroots. This is what is needed in Meghalaya too as elsewhere in the country. The north eastern tribes indeed believe that they can still safeguard their tribal interests and identity even if the traditional hereditary institutions are abolished and democratic Village Councils are instituted instead. Mr. Lyngdoh has emphatically supported this fact and he is convinced, like many others, that it is not correct to say that people are totally opposed to the proposed amendments of the Sixth Schedule with a view to empowering the villages in the State for the purpose of development.
Yours etc.,
Prof. PM Passah,
Via email
Of uncouth taxi drivers
Editor,
Every now and again we hear about rude and highhanded taxi drivers but it was not until Thursday morning (25th April, 2013) that I had personal experience of such brutish behaviour. This particular taxi driver (No:ML05-0469) not only refused to board me and my friend, but also humiliated us in public. I normally hire a taxi from Bishnupur taxi stand near Sankardev College to IGP stand. But that day even though there were several vacant taxis at the stand none agreed to go to IGP. I was forced to walk to Laban Last Stop hoping to get a taxi there but failed. Finally I met a friend and we asked the driver of the above-mentioned taxi to take us to IGP. He refused point blank and said he doesn’t go that side as he only takes passengers who go to Butcher Road via Rhino Point and back. Although there were many taxis at the stand, they all refused to take us. I told the errant driver that this was not fair and that I would lodge a complaint with the District Transport Officer (DTO). He shot back that he did not care since he was just a driver and if the owner sacked him he would drive another taxi.
I request the concerned authorities to take stern action against such errant taxi drivers so that the public are not harassed. Taxi owners too should train their drivers on etiquette to deal with passengers.
Yours etc;
MD Laloo,
Via email