Testing time for Meghalaya
The level of preparedness for calamities often defines the development index of any state. Disaster management means quick response time and effective emergency interventions.
A clear standard operating procedure (SOP) needs to be put in place so that they can be followed to the ‘T’ without anyone having to panic about what to do and how to do relief when disaster strikes.
Over the past few months, the incidence of ‘tectonic plate shifts’ and ‘ravaging winds’ have caught many including the Government by surprise. These freak weather conditions have caused large scale destruction to parts of Meghalaya. Are we prepared to meet such exigencies after all the disaster preparation drills? No we are not!
Most often we have had the usual workshops, seminars and training programmes but not the rigour of a real drill. Response to such emergencies actually show up our weaknesses.
At such occasions the entire Government machinery should be pressed into action beginning with the Block Development Officers up to the District Magistrates and other institutions of governance including the traditional institutions.
But often this convergence eludes us. It is humiliating for people caught in the disaster that the Government took stock of the cyclone damage ten days after it ravaged scores of villages in South West Khasi Hills District. And in the latest case they are yet to make a move.
Things have hit rock bottom as the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) even had to ‘urge’ officials to enhance the relief funds since the amount sanctioned fell far short of the real need.
If it wasn’t for the few blankets and food sacks distributed by some concerned organizations immediately after the calamity then people would have suffered much more.
CALM is Shillong’s unique gift to the world
What makes CALM unique is that it’s not a lit-fest only. It’s a festival for everyone. You enter the gates of CALM and you are a CALMIE – which means you calm down and just do whatever makes you happy.
People mistake it for a lit-fest and think only authors, poets etc are invited. CALM does not promote established figures but reaches out to the ones who desperately deserve to be established…publicised….budding writers and poets who don’t know where to go with their scripts. Everyone at CALM is a VIP..from the chaat waala to the light and sound guy to David Davidar to Sanjay Goyal (who looked so relaxed in jeans and sneakers sitting in the 8th row during the shows)
The audience cried with Jerry Pinto when he broke down on stage. They hugged him after his session..
‘YESTERDAY ONCE MORE’ a musical evening had the audience spontaneously take to the dance floor. SPELL BEE was a scream as people slipped and skidded while trying to spell ‘diarrhoea’ and ‘Pharaoh.’ Some notables even cheated.
And yes, Naga food was a great hit. Despite being warned about the ‘bum burn’ nobody cared. It was too good to miss!
Sky lanterns being lit not only by the guests but by curious passers-by, young and old in the final moments of the Fest, were some of the unforgettable moments of CALM-2.
But best of all is when the authors said, “Please invite us again…we’ve attended international fests for years but never a fest where we don’t want to return home; where the sessions are interactive..so much personalisation. Shillong has so much to offer and we in turn have so much to gain”