Editor
Action against bandh sponsorors is the best news in a long time. At last Mukul Sangma govt. has woken up to the hardship of the common people. I hope this will be continued till bandhs are wiped from memory. NGOs will get what they deserve for harassment of ordinary citizens.
Yours etc.,
Mark Lyngdoh
Shillong-1
Changes in tenancy bill
Editor,
The Meghalaya Regulation of Landlord and Verification of Tenants Bill 2013 should become an instrument to VERIFY, BUT NOT HARASS tenants. A tenant should be asked to furnish proof of identification in the form of Passport, Driving license, EPIC, PAN Card or Ration Card. Details of family members with pictures of each member can be furnished along with proof of identity. Re-verification through re-submission of documents can be done at the time of lease renewal. Spot checks can be carried out at desired intervals by the authorities to ensure compliance. Nothing more is needed for tenant verification. The inclusion of labour licenses, trade certificates and sworn affidavits before magistrates is complete overkill and unjustified harassment (to tenants). This will breed red tapism and corruption without serving the stated purpose. They must be removed from the ambit of this Bill.
Yours etc.,
Malcolm Jyrwa,
Via email
Freedom is not negotiable
Editor,
The citizens of Meghalaya refuse to be pawns in the political game of ILP any longer. We are being held to ransom by criminal elements calling themselves “pressure groups” who constantly threaten our lives and property and savagely kick our empty stomachs with bandhs and road blockades every day. For long these groups have been used as mercenaries by politicians to win political battles. Their so-called “unexplained” sources of income are hardly unexplained. Their entire survival depends on blood money and extortion activities. This is the real reason why they have no need to work at an honest living like normal people. They are paid handsomely for taking a certain stand in public which serves vested interests either politically or economically. Otherwise they fall back on “fund-raising activities”. Their sole time-tested strategy has been to put a gun to our heads to “pressurise” the govt. All the while, they are telling us that the gun is pointed at our heads for our own safety. Either we must be complete fools to believe that argument or we are being coerced into keeping our mouths conveniently shut. It is time to end this for the good of society and future generations. I stand behind the govt’s decision to take legal action against these groups and penalise them heavily for causing economic loss to the state. Peoples’ freedom is not up for sale or negotiation. The govt must make use of existing legislation to ban such groups by classifying them as what they really are –not NGO’s or pressure groups.
Yours etc.,
Robert Wahlang
Shillong -6
Shillong Club affairs
Editor,
Kudos to the Chairman and the Members of the Election committee of the club for smooth and peaceful conduct of the election of Board of Directors held on 21st September 2013 in the club premises in Shillong. Now that the new Board of Directors have been legitimately elected, we hope the running and functioning of the club’s affairs will turn anew so that members could make use of the facilities offered by the Club. As an outstation member, I use the club only when I visit Shillong now and then. I observed that there is scope for improvement of the Club’s ambiance and for better utilization of the facilities offered by the institution, befitting the past glory of the Club. All over the world, clubs are considered to be the second home of the members. Let us also keep it that way.
Allow me to make the following suggestions and implementation of the same as deemed fit. Firstly, the signature of the member should appear in the individual membership card to facilitate the bona-fide of the card holder. This will help identification of the genuineness of the card holder locally or while visiting affiliated clubs located elsewhere. Secondly, it is mandatory for the serving staff members to wear appropriate uniforms for better identification and so they can provide better service and discipline. The club has to have a good library for book lovers to drown their passions in. A good dining hall, gymnasium and even a swimming pool will tempt the family members to use the Club for health and recreation. Last but not least, the parking lot in the Golf club premises needs improvement by way of black topping. For that matter, the Club building itself needs a lot of improvement. The greens are in a terrible shape and fairways full of litter spread all over. I have seen the golf courses of the other clubs in India and abroad and the Shillong golf links will rank well ahead only if we take care, maintain and realize the beauty of God’s gift to us. The government must extend a helping hand in this respect to boost tourism and earn the much needed revenue for the State.
Yours etc.,
H.P. (Micky) Massar
Kolkata – 700071