Editor,
The Government has implemented a system of monitoring the timing of arrival and departure of its employees in the Meghalaya Secretariat (Main & Additional Building)and in the Urban Affairs Building, through the Access Conditional System (ACS)machines. All Govt employees are required to swipe a card in the machine at the time of arrival & departure or at any other time an employee wishes to get out/come back to the buildings for any personal purposes such as going out for lunch/tea etc. The Govt has now circulated to all the departments a statement containing the records of arrival & departure of all employees of all departments in the above three buildings.
Further, on the basis of the records (which are inaccurate), deduction of Casual Leave and Earned Leave(in case of those employees who have exhausted their C.L) have also been effected. Govt. employees working in the Meghalaya Secretariat wish to voice their concerns as this is clearly an act of partiality on the part of the Govt. Why should only the employees of the 3 buildings be the victims of this newly implemented system? What about the thousands of employees in other offices, buildings or in the DC’s Office, the Chief Engineer’s office, not to mention those in the Directorates & District Offices across the State who most of the time report for duty just once or twice a week? Are employees of the 3 buildings the only ones being paid by the Govt that they should be victimised? Aren’t the rest of the employees also paid by the Govt? We thought that Govt employees are paid for their output and not to just arrive and depart in time without performing duties throughout the day, because there are several of them who fall under this category.
If the Govt is serious about keeping its employees under observation there must be uniformity in implementing this process. Otherwise, the matter should be kept in abeyance, until the same is implemented throughout the state, so that not a single employee gets away with laxity.
Yours etc;
Concerned Govt employees
Too many
VIPs
Editor,
Two letters published by The Shillong Times on November 1, 2013 pointed to the indiscriminate fitting of red beacons on vehicles in Meghalaya and on the misuse of such vehicles. The first letter “Abuse of privilege,” narrated about the offence repeated by a school boy in uniform when he is seen driving a vehicle fitted with a red beacon in spite of being booked once for the same offence as reported earlier. The second letter “Rich State, Meghalaya ” described about the arbitrary fitting of red beacons by many public servants on their official vehicles. The Supreme Court had recently given clear directives on this matter. The State Government should implement this directive, failing which some citizens can take up a public interest litigation (PIL) at the abuse of power. Gping by the number of red-light fitted vehicles there appears to be VIP presence everywhere, including social functions where they are not supposed to be used. Certain category of people in this State are making a mockery of the law and getting away with it. The Government has to take stock if the owner of the vehicle should continue to get the facility of a red beacon on his vehicle. The presence of too many pseudo VIPs actually creates a nuisance on our streets because they bulldoze their way in crowded streets. People are disgusted to see the abject misuse of the red beacons by those who do not deserve them.
Yours etc.,
Justiner Marak,
Shillong-1
ILP vrs
Tenancy Act
Editor,
The Govt. of Meghalaya may be questioned as to how they will check influx in the interior areas like West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi District, Jaintia Hills District through the Tenancy Act since people from outside the State and from Nepal, Bangladesh etc can enter through the jungles and construct shelter there and multiply. As a matter of fact, our jungles are safe in all respects. After a few years these people will say that they are from Meghalaya. The Govt should understand that real influx is not in towns like Shillong, Jowai, Tura, etc only. These can be dealt with by ordinary Govt. action. But in the jungles it is far more difficult.
The need for ILP is great but our Chief Minister and his Congress MLAs have too much of an all-India outlook and don’t bother about their own people and threaten the NGOs who demand for it. It may be reminded that the regional parties demanded for Hill State from India to protect our local scheduled tribe people. Even then this demand was then vehemently opposed by the Congress party. I wish the Congress Party does not oppose the demand for ILP now. I deeply appreciate the NGOs who have been voicing it.
Yours etc.,
C. K. Marbaniang
Shillong-1