Editor,
How do we differentiate between craze and crave which is the current flavour amongst many Congress politicians especially those holding high office and portfolios? Despite the pathetic economic condition of our State, here we have politicians of the Congress led-government demanding Toyota Fortuners at the cost of public money which is utterly disgusting and shameless. If they wish to ride in comfort they should take a loan at their own cost and buy any luxury vehicle with their own money rather than asking the State exchequer to pay on their behalf. If comfort is the word used to carry them around, they should first feel the nail and stones pricking the feet of the poor farmer, the angst of a teacher, the suffering of the poorest of the poor and those without shelter. If people at large continue to re-elect such so called representatives then this state is sure to go bankrupt at the hands of fortune seekers. What a coincidence that Fortuner SUVs are what they want.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong-3
Guwahati Meghalaya House-epitome of corruption
Editor,
On my way New Delhi recently, I had to stay at Guwahati Meghalaya House. I was shocked to see the “watery boys’ dormitory.” Interestingly none of the staff had any answer to how it all happened. I was also shocked to learn that no blankets were available in both the dormitories of the house. Compared to other houses in other cities, it can be concluded that Guwahati Meghalaya House is the worst maintained! Each time I visit the house, the receptionist would say that all the rooms had been booked by VIPs. Surprisingly, the people who come out of the “VIP booked rooms” are common people like myself. And yes some of these so-called VIPs, are ex-MLAs. The General Administration Department should wake up from its deep slumber and look into the virtual harassment being meted out to the people of Meghalaya by its own
House in Guwahati.
Yours etc.,
W.G.Momin,
Tura
Special session for Education and Health
Editor,
I support the idea of a special Assembly session for Education and Health as advocated by Toki Blah in his article “Education and Health – Need for a Special Assembly Session” (ST Feb 6, 2014). This will address the core problems pertaining to education and health sectors in Meghalaya. This session should be followed by earnest implementation of the resolutions to be arrived at. The prime objective of education as pointed out in the above article, have been missed. General and technical education have failed to a very large extent. The State might have produced many degree and diploma holders but the quality and employability of our educated youth is questionable. Even the quality of work rendered by the educated and trained employed is also questionable. It’s high time we probe into the root causes of these predicaments which may be there in the system, in the education department, the teaching community and the society itself before we degenerate further. However, if such a session is convened I would like to ask the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Education, Prof R.C. Laloo a few questions on what his department has done with regard to his commitment last year in a cut motion in the Assembly. Firstly, he had committed that he would take up the matter of upgrading the polytechnic institutes in the state. Two, he promised to revamp the present infrastructure and to build the fence of the Shillong Polytechnic for the safety of the hostellers. Three, he agreed to set up new polytechnics in other districts of the state to ensure that more students are enrolled into technical education provide by such institutes.
I also would like to dwell on the issue raised by the Nongkrem legislator pf having a separate directorate for technical education like others states. Is this not required to ease the burden of one directorate? Don’t we think that such a directorate like Agriculture and would be better handled by professionals in the field than a generalist? Particularly I would like to request the Meghalaya State Council for Technical Education (MSCTE) which is the main decision making body for polytechnic education in the state to kindly ensure that classes are started early, examinations are conducted and results are declared in time so that final year students can pursue higher education elsewhere in the country without having to waste one whole year like in the previous years. In such a session it would also be appropriate to address the plight of Tura Polytechnic students as highlighted in the letter to the editor of this esteemed daily by one Shoshon A.gitok Sangma, ‘Sad story for Tura Polytechnic students’(ST Jan 14, 2014).
Yours etc.,
Airpeace W. Rani
Shillong –4