Editor,
Thank you for your concern and coverage about the Thalassemia case in your State. I would like to bring to your notice that Thalassemia cannot be treated at Guwahati Medical College. Rahim should be advised to rush his sons to CMC Vellore after seeking monetary assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for treatment at Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
Yours etc.,
Dr Waquar Ahmad Khan,
Malayala Manorama Co Ltd
New Delhi
Nightmare of an exam
Editor,
As per the advertisement for the Combined recruitment for the post of Programme Executive and Transmission Executive in Prasar Bharati, students were to appear for the exams on June 2, 2013. However, it turned out to be a nightmarish affair as a paper of 100 marks was expected to be written either in Hindi or any of the languages recognised in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. This caught the applicants completely by surprise as most of them were tribals and Khasi or Garo is not a recognised language in the 8th Schedule. In a country that promises equal opportunity to all this was certainly a very unequal situation if not outrightly biased. This raises a very important question. Is this UPA Government, through Prasar Bharati now seeking to deprive the tribals of jobs? Certain media persons came and witnessed the plight of the examinees. Many complained of jobs being deprived by such arbitrary policies such as use of a language unfamiliar to people of North East India. If the Central Government intends to make Hindi compulsory then it should make Hindi a compulsory subject in every school. If this is the trend then soon there will be no locals in the Prasar Bharati in future. I request the State Government to take up this matter with the Ministry of Broadcasting and Information and fight for the rights of the indigenous tribes of this region.
Yours etc.,
A worried candidate
Releasing septic tank to public drain
Editor,
I have to report the unsanitary living conditions that prevail in my neighbourhood due to sewage discharge into the open drain. The violator, who is the owner of Dora Apartments, Nongrim Hills had recently engaged four boys for cleaning her overflowing septic tank in complete violation of the Manual Scavenging Act. When confronted with this incontrovertible evidence, she apologized and requested that as a neighbour I should not file a complaint. I was assured that sewage would not be discharged into the open drain and that she would get her over-filled septic tank cleaned by the Municipality. However, none of this has happened and sewage continues to be discharged into the open drain causing a nauseating stench in the neighborhood. Needless to say, the health hazard and consequences that this unsanitary condition poses to the residents and passers-by is a cause of concern to all. This long standing problem was reported to the District Admistration via a petition dated May 29,2013 but sadly they have failed to take action so far. Also the Officer-in-Charge Laitumkhrah Police Station has failed to register an FIR and the Offices of the Shillong Municipality and Meghalaya Pollution Control Board have also failed in their duties to conduct an on -the- spot enquiry within the mandated time line .
Without being critical or cynical, I would urge the District authorities i.e Officer-in-Charge of Laitumkhrah Police Station, Chief Executive Officer- Shillong Municipal Board and Chairman- Meghalaya Pollution Control Board to understand that this is a violation under the law and therefore they must act against the violator. Inaction or delayed action in a matter is not a solution and I as concerned citizen am not going to accept this
Inaction.
Shaiq Parvez Kraipak
Shillong-3
Arrogance of the red beacon
Editor,
On June 1, 2013 at 8.40 pm as I was driving by the Ward’s Lake, a government vehicle (ML 01-1995) came towards me from the wrong side. The road permits one-way entry only. I stopped to inform the driver that he was breaking the traffic rule. To my utter surprise I noticed that the driver was the lone occupant of the vehicle with the red beacon on. Instead of admitting his fault he challenged me and dared me to call the police.
I hope that the concerned VIP pulls up his driver as this violation of traffic regulation could lead to a major accident since vehicles tend to speed up on one way lanes. This mail is also meant to invite concerned fellow citizens to report such arrogance.
Yours etc.,
Kenneth Pala,
Shillong-8