Editor,
As a student of NEHU I am well aware of the activities of the JAC and its members. Most of the members don’t teach but spend their time in petty politicking. They have asked that the faculty members who have expressed their anguish at the JAC (which has become the biggest stumbling block to the growth of NEHU), to come out in the open. Why should people have to express their opinions by name? It is enough that they feel for the downward spiral of NEHU and are saying so. They have every right to remain anonymous. As students, we feel that NEHU is being stunted in its growth, by those professors in the JAC who have neither grown themselves and nor have they allowed the University to grow. It is a very dangerous trend as the JAC is now trying to sell the idea of a ‘local’ Vice Chancellor. What do they mean by this? A University like NEHU must be led by the most capable person with no self interest to take over. We have had enough of VCs who have got in by pulling strings with the powers that be in Delhi. He or she may be from anywhere in this country. And it would be better if we do not have anyone from NEHU appointed as VC since the person will not be able to function with all the baggage of HASA and the fear of being hounded by the JAC which has turned into a Frankenstein out to destroy NEHU brick by brick.
I call upon the student fraternity of NEHU to unite and stop the JAC in its destructive mission. I also urge upon the Chief Minister and Education Minister of Meghalaya to play a more pro-active role in engaging with the Ministry of Human Resources Development to appoint a person of stature and integrity as the VC, NEHU. There is a lot of cleaning up to be done; the administration must be streamlined and trouble makers must know they cannot hold the University to ransom. The citizens of Meghalaya should also express their considered views on this issue. After all NEHU is in Meghalaya. We cannot expect people from other states to come to NEHU’s rescue.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Shillong
Urgent need for goods train
Editor,
The outgoing Governor of Meghalaya, Mr. R S Mooshahary, had rightly pointed out that all developed states and countries have rail connectivity, as railways holds significance in this modern world. This is an indisputable fact. As reported from time to time statistics have shown that Meghalaya holds the record for being the State where the cost of essential food items is the most expensive. Indeed, prices are just spiraling that its a wonder how people, especially the marginalised, have been coping when even those with regular jobs and high incomes are expressing difficulties to make ends meet. The poor are subsisting on bare necessities and denied healthy eating. When the rates of vegetables, cooking oil, dal, fruits etc. have sky-rocketed in the last few years, its obvious we cannot expect a healthy and fit population, can we?
No doubt there has been a trend of price rise in the country, but why are we paying double the price for everything in our state? The reason is because of the high cost of transportation as we are dependent on road transport. Across the world governments are exploring ways to provide economically viable modes of transport to raise the living standards of their people and ease the burden of spending on food. A large number of women, mothers and homemakers support the idea of bringing the goods train as soon as possible to the State, as they feel the pinch on their purse strings the most.
The prices of petrol and diesel shoot up every three to four months. According to the traders and food suppliers in the city, trucks are now charging around Rs. 12000 per trip from Guwahati to Shillong – a drastic raise within a period of a few years from Rs. 3000 – 4000 per trip. Now that government has finally decided to bring in the railway line we hope it sticks by its decision. However, for now, we need to keep the passenger train on hold until such time the right mechanisms are in place to check the wrong kind of influx.
Yours etc.,
Syrpailin Khonglah
via e-mail
Buses should cater to the differently-abled
Editor,
I write this article after having recently noticed a very sad scene. I was waiting at a bus stop when I noticed a SPTS bus pull up. A differently- abled boy holding crutches was trying desperately to get on the bus. This was a Herculean task for the boy. He held one side of bus door and then the other, his feet trembling , his hands shivering and he nearly fell back a couple of times ! What should have just been a simple step for him to get into a means of public transport turned into the struggle of a lifetime. Now it is easy for us to feel sorry and forget the matter. But what the disabled need is not our pity but our realization that they are equal citizens of this nation ! They too have the basic fundamental rights such as ” right to equality. ” It is the duty of transport authorities , bus manufacturers , maxi cab manufacturers etc., to ensure that every public transport had disabled-friendly ramps so that getting inside a public transport does not turn out to be the task of a lifetime .The only reason why the disabled person had to struggle to get in to the bus is because the steps to the bus were simply too high ! Also , there was no means for his easy entry into the bus or for keeping his crutches while he does so. What is the point of having seats with designations like ” differently- abled ” when it’s next to impossible for them to even enter the bus ? I know these buses and maxi cabs are made, keeping in mind the needs of the larger physically perfect embodiments of Zeus himself in mind but let us not be so selfish as to deny these very capable and talented physically differently- abled people their basic rights like simple and easy entry into a public transport or a public institution. Let us today extend the paradigm of the definition of a gentleman and say , ” A real gentleman is not just someone who opens the door for a lady but one who waits for a differently- abled person to board a public transport before he/she does. Let us be true gentlemen!
Yours etc.,
Prantoo Saikia,
Vie email