Editor
Apropos Kenneth Pala’s letter “NGOs prove your innocence!” (ST 21st October 2013), I find myself in total agreement with the writer on the issue of transparency by NGOs. If we want to end corruption we must clean our own house first, starting with those who claim to speak in our voice. Without doubt corruption in government has caused grievous harm to people in our backward state which depends on central funds. But so has NGO-sponsored corruption, perhaps even more so, since muscle power is used by NGOs and surrendered extremists to illegally gain lucrative contracts and businesses. Add to that the nexus between NGOs, politicians and some bureaucrats, corruption has now assumed gigantic proportions. The problem is made worse by bandhs and agitations (without our consent) which has made life hell. NGOs must come clean on their financial status and open up their books of accounts to us, the people. We demand it. Let there be a government committee to scrutinize NGO assets to clear this doubt.
Yours etc
W.A Khongwir
Shillong-3.
Stop begging for your rights!
Editor,
I am at a loss to under-stand why institutions like the Church, the Puja Committees, NEHU and now KHADC have to fall at the feet of pro-ILP pressure groups and beg them not to call bandhs which clash with their agendas. The more they beg, the more they lose respect in the eyes of the people and the more powerful these hostage-takers become. Instead of begging they should be demanding their rights under the constitution. They should be demanding that govt give them due protection. Why do revered institutions and govt bodies possess little self-respect in our State? Is it because govt has shown little interest in protecting the weak and oppressed? Or is it because society has lost the moral standing to withstand arm-twisting by pressure groups? Begging is not going to get us anywhere. Stand up and demand your rights, for God’s sake.
Yours etc.,
Dorothy Marbaniang
Shillong – 14
No mischief, Mr Lanong
Editor,
Rather than get into a lengthy debate over A.F. Dkhar’s letter “Mischievous distortion of Lanong’s article”, I would merely point Mr. Dkhar to the article “High Level Committee on Influx – half truths and assumptions” by S. Marbaniang (ST 22.10.13) and ask readers to draw their own conclusions. The RTI report which has been generously shared by Mr. Marbaniang contains ample evidence to vindicate my stand on the issue.
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Shillong
What do we want?
Editor,
For Meghalayans living outside, reading Shillong news papers on the internet goes down well with the early cup of tea. We catch up with what’s going on in Meghalaya but nowadays the news from home, is anything but great. Everyone is so gung-ho about the ILP that from here it seems everyone out there has turned into an ostrich, happily living their lives with their heads in the sand! Wake up people, wake up! We are in the 21st century and 19th century British laws are fit only for the museum or the waste paper basket.
Your current activities over there are so out of this real world that they seem surreal and funny. There are the anti establishment groups. Bandhs are called from Dhaka and faithfully observed by the faithful in Shillong. We are given to understand that the media itself is no longer neutral with some local papers openly siding with the call for secession from India. If the ILP is for influx control then are we saying that the best Government to give us such control will be Bangladesh? The Khasis, especially the semi-educated, are coming out as a people who do not know what they want!
I have a gut feeling that the call for the ILP has more to do with a vague idea of physically fencing ourselves off to save ourselves. Through a totally flawed education system our youth are intellectually cut off from the world of knowledge. Thinking has been outlawed and youngsters are now capable only of expressing themselves through Facebook. What is the intellectual foresight of the people who are calling for the ILP? To be more precise do they have or possess any vision for the state and its people? They have only fear to offer and any fool can find something to be afraid of.
Yours etc.,
Shanbor Mukhim
JNU New Delhi
Much touted ILP
Editor,
Thanks to S Marbaniang for the salient features of the report and recommendation of the High Level Committee (HLC ) on Influx. I feel better enlightened . I also endorse his idea of Government placing the report and recommendation in the public domain . Surely , the subject calls for more debates and discussions. Lets now abide by the advice of President Pranab Mukherjee for resolution to the impasse through dialogue. Let’s start by overcoming the egoism , egotism and jingoism in us before forces of more dangerous fascism or talibanism take over .
Yours etc.,
Rudi Warjri,
Via email