Editor,
Apropos Paul Lyngdoh’s letter, ‘The ILP Dilemma’ (ST 14th Aug 2013), it is indeed heartening to note that elected representatives, or should one say at least ‘one elected representative’ has taken steps to share, in the public domain, his views on the ongoing ILP controversy. In a democracy it’s helpful and in public interest to know the minds of our representatives especially on sensitive issues like influx. Hopefully other MLAs and MDCs would take heart ( courage !) to do the same. The editorial column of the same day also spoke of the fear about the ILP entanglement becoming a political football. Another interesting take on the matter as the public anxiously await our politicians to raise above the tendency to score brownie points, and recognise the floor of the Assembly as the most appropriate democratic platform to come up with meaningful legislation on the vexed issue. As a discerning public its about time we realise that (1) NGO voices , however stringent, can hardly be called the voice of the people.(2) elected representatives need to debate the concerns of the state in the Assembly and not in the street (3) Meghalaya needs to come out with an Out -of- the -Box, acceptable across the board solution on influx, that is relevant to Meghalaya and its needs and that such a solution need not be a mere copy cat of what others are doing.
A suggestion at this juncture would not be out of place. Why can’t the Government or the Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly constitute an All Party Fact finding Committee ( APFC) on the issue of finding the most appropriate control mechanism for influx. The TOR of the APFC would be but not limited to the following relevant aspects:
1. Define once and for all what is it that we fear from Influx. Is it unregulated entry of outsiders or the ease with which outsiders settle in and take root in Meghalaya? Two different issues that need two different solutions.
2. Visit NE states implementing the ILP and find out first hand as to the effectiveness of the same
3. Give its view as to the effectiveness of the ILP as an influx control mechanism for Meghalaya
4. Present, if so required , an all party perspective on the most effective method on influx control for the state.
The APFC should include members from all political the different parties and if need be include non- member experts who are capable of contributing to the findings of the body. If people can be sent to distant countries to come up with meaningful interventions for Meghalaya’s progress, there should be no restrictions as to the size or composition of the APFC for a visit to neighbouring states.
Let us end this messy imbroglio once and for all. It’s the least our MLAs can do for the state and its people.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Independence Day – a ritual?
Editor,
This year we celebrate the 67th Anniversary of the country’s independence, and as it is customary on every Independence Day, we go through the ritual of flag hoisting. To most of us, Independence Day celebration is a matter of routine, without ourselves ever caring to ponder over its true meaning and significance. August 15th, 1947 was a day of achievement of peoples’ movement and struggle, heeding the call of Satyagraha by the Mahatma. For many years now, 15th of August stands for a holiday, a bandh, a day of relaxation and break from our daily humdrum schedule. How many of us recall and re-live the memory of those days? How many of us realize the importance of that long drawn out struggle for swaraj? The Mahatma, Nehru, and their dreams for a glorious India, have long been forgotten. They just remain chapters in textbooks of history, which is being constructed and re-constructed as a tool of political power. When we re-live the story of our freedom struggle and its aspirations, in critical introspection, then we will come to realize the value of each drop of blood and sweat for freedom.
It would perhaps be better if we take a long hard look at ourselves and take the pledge that we made 67 independent years ago. Let us make the freedom of our Independence a day of celebration of our dreams.
Yours etc.,
Bivan R. Mukhim
Shillong 22