Editor,
This refers to the letter by PK Lakiang (ST May 9, 2014) on the Khasi Social Custom Lineage Act 1997. I wonder how many of the present lawmakers know that the so-called father of the Sixth Schedule, Mr JJM Nichols Roy never took his mother’s clan name. His father was Khah Than Roy and his mother Rimai Syiemlieh. But he was Nichols Roy (wife’s surname, father’s clan name), not Syiemlieh. His children and grandchildren also took the same names ‘Nichols-Roy’.
By attempting to define who is a Khasi, mainly through the mother’s lineage, the Khasi Hills District Council has deleted from Khasi-hood the very founder of the Sixth Schedule which gave them the power in the first place. It’s like cutting the very branch on which your bottom sits!
Yours etc.,
Rasputin Bismarck Manners
Kolkatta.
Ignorant official!
Editor,
My attention is drawn to the recently published news item in one of the local newspapers that reported the statement made by Mr A S Suting, Project Director of Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS), about the closure of the Society. This government official has stated that MRDS would be dissolved by June/July 2014 when it is assumed to be known to him that the decision of dissolution is no longer in the hands of the Government as the matter has now become a litigation in the Honourable High Court of Meghalaya. It is very unfortunate that a capable official has made an irresponsible move of issuing a public statement on the fate of MRDS when the same is sub-judice. When this matter was raised in the Assembly by the local MLA [Sohra Constituency], even the Chief Minister declined to comment on the matter as he was well aware that it is sub-judice and pending decision by the High Court of Meghalaya. By making such statements in the media it appears the concerned Project Director is above the Executive Head of the State. Has the Government Suting the sole authority to single-handedly decide on the fate of MRDS thereby by-passing the Board of Directors who have the Supreme authority on matters relating to the said Society? It is also assumed that the concerned person is ignorant about the implications of publishing statements on matters locked in legal disputes, or, he has chosen to deliberately ignore the issue thereby exhibiting his lack of respect for the Court of Law and for that matter, the sacred principle of Rule of Law.
Youre etc.,
R Lamare
Via e-mail
Good leadership at last!
Editor,
It is heartening to see that after many years, the office attendance of State government employees came to as high as ninety percent during the first day of the HNLC bandh. In fact the central government offices which usually close down during the many other bandh days recorded an attendance as high as eighty four percent on that day. The different banks that played spoil-sport by closing down on the first day of the bandh eventually had to open from the second day onwards after immediately being served notices by the state government. All this was reported by the different local newspapers. In fact, the bandh called by the HNLC proved a damp squib as the general public at large also ignored the bandh because of the visible presence of security all over which is usually not so in the past though assurances were always made. This favourable response by the public and the government employees was unprecedented and no doubt a healthy sign of things to come. But this would not have happened had the government not shown its determination to suppress the bandh. While the public were exhorted to defy the bandh prior to the bandh days, it was reported that a meeting of all the top brass of the state government, the central government, the banks and public undertakings was also convened by the State government a day before the bandh to ensure that everything should be normal as usual on the bandh days. This proved to be effective. We have not seen any report of such meetings being convened by the State Government in the past. What was usually heard was that a ready- made circular was routinely issued to state government offices on the days prior to the bandh to ensure attendance, without a genuine or sincere effort to ensure compliance. Nor were there any follow up actions thereafter. This sudden pro-active move of the state government is unprecedented but a very positive development. One should appreciate the initiatives and the aggressive moves of Mr Barkos Warjri who is presently only the acting Chief Secretary of the State. With this sort of good leadership qualities and with him as Chief Secretary, we expect to see better days ahead.
Yours etc.,
Donbok Syiemlieh,
Shillong-3