Editor,
The air of hope surrounding the swearing in ceremony of the Modi Government is so thick you could cut it with a knife. People are looking forward to fresh changes that would dust the cobwebs off the floundering economy. But I sincerely hope that the drive for this change will be the small farmer and the small entrepreneur rather than the big industrialist. After all we desperately need to narrow the income gap by raising the income of the have-nots rather than by attempting to raise the incomes of those that already have. Those producing and those marketing the produce have to learn to support each other and grow together.
However, the biggest challenge will be to change the colonial systems that have grown roots in India. Like the British Raj, the present system also seems to encourage exploitation of the many for the advantage of a few. The ruler (read government), can do no wrong and is totally beyond the reach of the ruled. It is only during elections that an interface takes place between the ruler and the ruled. In this manner we have “democracy” only during the election process. Post election, the elected become entrenched behind a bureaucratic wall, whose sole duty is to serve the “government” and not the governed. Can we have a government that goes beyond the “by” and “of” the people into being actually “for” the people? In fact, can we have the three pillars of democracy – the legislature, the executive and the judiciary – operating on an equal plane so that a system of checks and balances is put in place? Teaching of “etiquette” to the executive is definitely a step back to the Raj. I would think we have a more pressing need to teach “humility” to the legislators.
Rather than looking at language or religion, which are personal, can the new government address the gaps in the education system? We are in dire need of an education system that will encourage our youth to question, probe, explore and find solutions for themselves. In short, we need a “liberating” rather than a “domesticating” system of education. Our youth need to learn to identify and exploit business opportunities. They have to learn dignity of labour, work ethics and how to imbibe a work culture. They have to develop self confidence and self-reliance.
In conclusion, we need to really put in place a “bottoms-up” approach that will allow a constant interface between the people and the policy makers. Let every development scheme factor in “capacity building” in their budgets. Let the focus for evaluation of schemes shift from mere outputs to actual impacts at the grassroots level.
Let the new government in Delhi show that they have statesmen who care about the next generation rather than politicians who only care about the next election.
Yours etc.,
RG Lyngdoh,
Via email
Meghalaya SMEE and its promises
Editor,
The Meghalaya State Medical Entrance Examination has come at a no better time than now, when all the other medical entrance tests results have been published and when the Class XII results of all the Boards have been declared. The said order from the Centre, if it comes at this time for the seat allotments which are yet to be received are matters of concern. Many questions arise in our mind. 1). How is the government or DHS going to conduct an important exam in such a short period that too as a first timer? Institutions and universities take more than half a year to plan and organise any yearly examination. 2). Who will set the papers? Definitely not our doctors who have no teaching experience whatsoever as there is no medical college yet in the state save NEIGRIHMS? 3). Evaluation of scripts by way of OMR sheets probably could be done but fears and doubts still abound in spite of promises made by our Hon’ble Health Minister. How fair will it be? 4). The 40% and 60% weightage given to the board and entrance exams respectively is followed by institutions where candidates apply but if applied here it means that a student getting 100% in the board exam can be superseded by a student who gets only 50% in the board exam but secures 60% in the entrance exam. Parents do the maths; anything is possible here. What about a sample question paper for the candidates so they know the pattern, which syllabus to follow and how the candidates will prepare for the examination when nothing is in place till now? Last though not the least, it is possible that this test is conducted for SOME who did not qualify anywhere, because the decision appears to have come as an after-thought not as a pre-planned idea
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
A concerned parent