Editor,
The CJM University scam has come as a rude awakening to the Meghalayan belief in their state as an educational hub of repute. We now belatedly realise that perhaps we have been living in a fool’s paradise. With each passing day more and more evidence is being unearthed of political connivance in the creation of such scandals. It’s a rude awakening of the depths our beloved elected leaders are prepared to sink, in their search for self aggrandisement. The pressure therefore should not only be concentrated in the cry for punitive action against erring CJM officials but perhaps more so in identifying politicians who actively, knowingly and deliberately abetted and connived with such dubious institutions. I mean why shouldn’t the public know the identities of such wolves in sheep skins?
The church of a certain Christian denomination had been in the forefront of a campaign against one such private university, The Martin Luther Christian University. In fairness to all concerned, church members and non members alike, the discerning public continues to remain unclear as to what the whole hullabaloo is about. We presume it’s the church washing its dirty linen in public. However certain pastors of this church have taken the stand that they are fighting for a cause. The RTI has been heavily resorted to in an attempt to justify that “cause”. What is puzzling is that these upholders of a cause and champions of the RTI have preferred to maintain a loud silence in the case of the CMJ University scam. It is hoped that the RTI Pastors do not discriminate in their search for social justice. It is hoped also that “cause and commitment” are not resorted to simply bring a particular institution to its knees, though it appears more and more like it.
In the meanwhile, the MLCU has emerged as a dynamic, progressive and vibrant private university in Meghalaya. It has captured the imagination of academicians and intellectuals from across the country. They visit to give enlightened discourses on mental health, career counselling and counselling psychology, to name a few. It suffers from no dearth of teachers nor students and may it so continue. My own daughter is a product of this University and is now gainfully employed.
In light of the plight and suffering of the innocent students of CMJ, it is hoped that the MLCU as a Christian University, take a page from the parables of Jesus Christ and come up with a Good Samaritan act for the poor CMJ students who have been victimised for no fault of theirs. Hopefully the Church will give its blessings to such an act. God Bless and Amen.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
NEPA Training – a bitter experience
Editor,
The North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA), a premier police training institute in the North East is meant to impart quality training to the young police officers of the region. It is located in Umsaw, 25 Kms away from Shillong. Recently I passed out from this Institute after completing my one year Basic training. Through your esteemed daily I wish to draw the attention of the higher authorities about my bitter experience in the outdoor training in NEPA. During our training one Mr. N.K. Chaturvedi would pass very adverse comments on the people of the North Eastern States. He apparently suffers from some deep-seated prejudice against the people of this region. When the trainees of the North Eastern States protested, the authorities had dropped him from the post of Commanding Officer. But we now learn from our brother trainees that he has succeeded to worm his way back into the same CO’s post. A person who comes to the North East but does not respect the sentiments of people here can cause immeasurable harm to an Academy like NEPA where all the Police Officers of North East are trained, I request the higher authorities to look into the matter urgently so that the minds of the atmosphere at NEPA is not further vitiated and so that young police officers is not are not misled to become destructive during their training in the Institute.
Yours etc
C.S. Lotha
Shillong -14
Football versus Cricket in Meghalaya
Editor,
Much before the state of the art, football infrastructure came to Shillong, football lovers of the city thought about the future prospects of the game and formed a club prefixing the name Shillong against the name of the club as ‘Shillong Lajong Football Club’ (SLFC). The efficient management of the core committee of the club viz: Sponsors, Managers, Coaches and Captains gave the club a national reputation. The club became entitled to participate in I-league against many affluent and renowned football clubs since 2009. We, Meghalayans are proud to say that Lajong is the only Football Club from North East India which is embedded in the football map of India. Though the Club is still young, its performances in the last season of I-league were creditable. If it continues with the same zeal the day will not be far off when it will acquire a berth amongst the top three Football Clubs in India. The recent recognition of one more football club from Meghalaya – ‘Rangdajied United Football Club’ (RUFC) added more charm for football lovers of North East India. It was happened only because of the complete dedication of the players and their mentors and the progressive attitude shown by the football lovers of Shillong/Meghalaya. As a football fan I wish all success to both the teams. Considering that football has been able to make such great leaps I wonder why another popular game – Cricket in Shillong has been running at snail’s pace? Is it due to mismanagement on the part of the Meghalaya Cricket Association or because of lack of financial resources? The answer is best known to the Organisation. If Cricket in Meghalaya is in a moribund state due to organisational problems then it requires to be immediately revamped to come up to the status of other sports in the State. .
In Shillong cricket is played in a different format and is still at the amateur stage. The Game is mostly confined to school/college/working personnel only. Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) though affiliated to BCCI, has, till date not made any headway. Nor has it been able to establish the credibility of the MCA. Till date no national level Cricket game has ever taken place in Shillong. The Cricket players/lovers of Meghalaya need revamp the management of the Meghalaya Cricket Governing Body and also seek the support of the Union Sports Ministry for assistance. All sport lovers of Shillong wish to see that Cricket like Football is elevated to the national level. Once national level Cricket is played here the BCCI will begin to scout for promising players from the State. Only then will lovers of Cricket be able to see their own young people playing at the national level. Will it not be a moral booster to sports lovers of Meghalaya?
Yours etc.
P B Das
Shillong-3
Streamlining the PDS
Editor,
Through your valued daily I would like to point out few points on the public distribution in our State. Every year the quota of sugar under PDS lapses for one or two months. In spite of writing letters to the D.C East Khasi Hills (Supply) I have not received a satisfactory response. There is a blame game between played by the DC Supply and the FCI about not receive the quota of sugar. There has not been any sincere effort to ensure that the sugar quota for a particular month is received within that month although it is released from the Central Pool. It is therefore heartening to note that the Centre is likely to release Rs. 43 crore for PDS computerization in Meghalaya with the aim of minimizing malpractices in the PDS. At least computerization will check corruption and pilferage which has been the bane of the PDS in Meghalaya. Also there will be a proper check as far as timely distribution of rice and sugar under PDS is concerned.
Yours etc.,
SL. Singhania,
Headman,
Police Bazar, Shillong-1