Editor,
The NGT ban on rat hole mining has really thrown the spanner into the works. It is reported that almost all the migrant labourers in the coal mining areas have left. One of the main causes for outsider influx into the state eradicated with a stroke of the pen. 90 % of influx has stopped. One therefore wonders at the sullen silence of the anti influx groups over this aspect of the ban! An ambiguity worthy of a research paper. A real puzzler this one.
Another brain teaser is the shrill almost hysterical voice from some quarters that the NGT ban is anti 6th Schedule. Hard to comprehend the logic behind such a stand. Difficult to understand the moronic demand to subvert NGT rulings through provisions of an amended 6th Schedule. Lets face it. The 6th Schedule is for the holistic benefit of schedule tribes. By schedule tribes I mean all of us. Lets not try to fiddle around to make this inclusive provision of the Constitution applicable only for some over privileged mine owners.
As it is there are serious parliamentary recommendations for doing away with the autonomous District Councils. These recommendations were made on the observation that the ADCs are no longer relevant which basically means the irrelevance of the 6th Schedule. Many of us don’t agree with this hypothesis. However making use of the 6th Schedule to promote the vested interests of a few individuals; painting the 6th Schedule as an exclusive constitutional article to circumvent NGT rulings on environmental protection, only strengthens the above observations of 6th Schedule irrelevance. Its dangerous; its likely to send wrong signals to the Centre and its nauseating to make use of the tribal human shield to protect the vested interests of a few. One really begins to understand the term ‘Mafia’!
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Indeed no militant gene!
Editor,
Endorsing R G Lyngdoh’s view of the current disturbing situation in Garo Hills, one can say that nobody is a born criminal, an extremist or a militant. Heroes are not born but made; likewise these so called disturbing elements are made and are a byproduct of social, political, economic and psychological stress collectively linked in an intrinsic manner. If a comparative study is carried out state wise in India or worldwide, there’s a harmonized view that poverty prone, underdeveloped regions always go parallel with militancy nightmares, whether in the African continent (Nigeria, Central African Republic, Somalia, Sudan),central Asia( Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq), Red belt zones of the Indian sub continent or the Northeastern states. Imposing military rule hence is not the curative pill of this disease but remains just a cosmetic treatment for political gains, pleasing those stakeholders in this game. The root cause is situational in character thus only by eradicating or altering these situations can one completely cure this menace. The remedy is to push developmental activities, generate employment, enhance skill development along with some financial support, entrepreneurship, quality education etc to name few.
Recently many questions were raised about the politician- militant nexus in the current fiasco. Yes no one can deny the elephant in the room. It’s an open secret that our political class has close proximity with these militants. Militancy cannot survive in a vacuum, financial resources are channelized in a well planned manner which in turn secure the safety of our MLA’s/MP’s from this region, hence, none of the news regarding kidnapping or killing of any of the MLAs/MDCs is reported so far as my memory goes.
It’s sad to point out that the region that has produced the maximum number of chief ministers since Meghalaya was created is facing the wrath of militancy, terrorizing the innocent citizens, creating sense of fear day and night. This is nothing but political apathy, languorous attitude and self centeredness of those representatives from this region. Neglecting their very own people who put them on the throne, our present and past MP’s /MLA’s did very little to promote development. Their children are well educated in foreign universities, dwell in mansions in the capital city hundreds of miles away from their own. One simple question for them, “What you have done for your own people in the last three decades”?
Yours etc;
Sonie Kharduit,
New Delhi -6