Editor,
Apropos the news item “Five held for trespassing into CM’S bungalow”(ST 13th August 2013) it was stated that the residential complex of the Chief Minister has become a source of attraction for onlookers. As such, the possibility of people trespassing in would be there when people unconsciously move in out of curiosity to gape at the magnificent structure . This calls for proper security in place. What catches the eye as reported, however, is that the residential complex is constructed at a cost of rs 10 crore. What is also reported is that this amount is meant only for the construction part. Follow this up with the furnishing part which is unavoidable, then the amount would shoot up some more. This is indeed a matter of public discourse. How much revenue does Meghalaya earn that the State can afford such an extravaganza? Do we have more than sufficient State resources to even meet our own pressing demands without depending on the Centre always? The economic condition of our people in the rural areas and specifically those in the western part of our State is miserable; we still have innumerable villages where huts and thatch roofs are predominant. The deficiencies everywhere are glaring enough for every one to see. These need not be elaborated. Therefore public servants need to balance their requirements with that of the general economic scenario of the State and the people. The Chief Minister of Meghalaya cannot afford to equate his requirements with those of the chief ministers of the other rich States in the country. I am not even sure if these chief ministers have palatial government residential complexes in their respective states. For a struggling State like ours, a decently large building with decent facilities would surely suffice for any public servant. We do not require to have a state of the art building as someone suggested earlier. The Tara Ghar building has already accommodated chief ministers of the State in the past. Now that it is no longer required to be used as an Assembly building I see no reason as to why our successive Chief Ministers cannot occupy the same building. Is this not a matter for public discourse? Or perhaps, ‘Ours’ not to reason why.’
Yours etc.,
P Marbaniang,
Shillong-3
What irony is this?
Editor,
It is so ironic and at the same time sad for the “Students” of an institute called “CHANDRA MOHAN JHA’ university that their Chancellor has the temerity to use the financial resources/fees of the students to employ these highly paid lawyers. No less than Rs 30 lakhs would have been spent on these lawyers and their aides. And this is just the first hearing. More attendances, more hearings, adjournments will follow. Finally, when the matter is decided at the Supreme Court, either way, crores of rupees would have been spent. What exactly are the benefits for the students here? Their reputations have been harmed unequivocally, rightly or wrongly. They have lost so much time. All for a stranger with dubious intentions ? It is time some recourse is found with Chandra Mohan himself. Legal battles will not solve anything. It is also time for well meaning NGOs of this state to take the bull by the horns and show their mettle.
Yours etc.,
Nesfield Sangma
Smit incident
Editor,
The incident that occurred in Smit village on August 16, 2013,where three people of the same family were mercilessly hacked to death by a frenzied blood thirsty mob and four others had a narrow escape, on mere suspicion of being menshohnoh (witchcraft), is to say the least a despicable inhumane and barbaric act that must be condemned by all right-thinking people.
This chilling incident has taken our society to a new low. Society as a whole must introspect and ask ourselves how in this day and age we can allow such heinous incidents usually associated with the dark ages. to reoccur time and again in our society which boasts of being a Christian state?’ And what can be done to prevent such inhumane acts from being committed on our fellow human beings? Again, while condemning the barbaric act in the strongest term possible and appealing to the District Administration and the police to take the most stringent action against those responsible for inciting the hysterical mob to commit the deplorable act, I would also appeal to the District Administration and the right-thinking NGOs alike to look at ways of educating and creating awareness among the people of the state especially in the rural areas to help dispel such myths to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated in the future. Lastly, I would like to say that the police department did a commendable job in bringing the situation under control given the crisis they were in on that fateful night. My prayers are with the family members of the departed souls.
Yours etc,
Jason Mairom
Shillong-1