Editor
I read with interest and sadness the article by V M Wahlang,regarding the “arbitrary fee hike” by Loreto Convent. Back in the sixties our monthly school fees at Loreto was Rs. 60 per month!
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email
Spreading peace through music
Editor,
Kudos to our home-grown Shillong Chamber Choir for the wondrous and delightful music this Award winning group has provided over the year and the undeniable attraction they continue to garner for Meghalaya. Their latest performance in the opening show of KBC 8 in Surat won the hearts of the house-full audience and the TV viewers throughout the country. The State’s CM, Dr. Mukul Sangma, unbeknownst to the public has been gracious in extending both logistical and financial support to SCC when they performed for the local public as a courtesy gesture. However in today’s pitiable state of affairs where our society is burdened with mounting stress and depression arising from the rampant breakdown of law and order in Garo Hills, the fallout of the NGT ban, spate of zero achievement, bandh calls etc. it would by all measure of sanity be a blessing if our Tourism, Arts & Culture, Information & Broadcasting Depts. earmark a portion of their budget to encourage the Shillong Chamber Choir to revamp and rejuvenate our jaded and faded indigenous folklore music. This will boost our passion for everything musical. This may appear ridiculous, overall the larger long term benefits of spreading upbeat soothing,folklore music would surely assuage flagging dispirited sentiments of locals and perhaps enlighten even the hardened anti-socials, militants and what-have-you to cheer up and enjoy the sounds of SCC music.
Yours etc.,
Lewis Sooting,
Via email
Good move for the environment
Editor,
It was heartening to note the arrest of people engaged in indiscriminate dumping of garbage, in Shillong city (ST Aug 26,2014). Kudos to District Police administration for the prompt response. It is a rare occasion but hopefully a precursor of good tidings to come. In fact Durbars/Welfare Societies, particularly women’s organizations in all localities need to come up with a vigilant force and educational institutions should set up “Green Volunteers” to check the menace of all forms of dumping like soil, bio-medical waste etc., besides solid waste in and around their respective locality/institute. Naming, shaming and penalizing should act as deterrents. The Police Department must seriously consider opening a “green cell” in strategic police stations to deal with such offences, which must be made non-bailable/cognizable including options of invoking of section 133 by the District Magistrate as suggested by A.H. Scott Lyngdoh during a panel discussion on the issue of reclaiming Wahumkhrah organized by MAF recently. A clean Shillong which includes conserving our water bodies and rivers has to start from each individual home, preceded by “cleaning” of mindsets and attitudes of each resident of Shillong to tackle this menace.
Yours etc
Naba Bhattacharjee
Shillong-4
Garo Hills in flames: Whose fault is it?
Editor,
The letter written by one Paul Young Momin of Gokol village in Garo Hills under the caption Garo Hills in flames made me sit up and pen this letter.
It’s not surprising to see that every time any crime such as kidnapping for ransom or rape occurs, the normal practice is to put the entire blame on the law enforcing agency, more commonly the police. Can we have a better society free from all evils by just blaming the police ? The answer is big NO. Let’s look into our own homes first. Our Prime Minister had rightly observed in his maiden Independence Day speech from the ramparts of historical Red Fort that we as parents are quick to serve precautionary advice with unlimited numbers of Do’s and Don’ts to our teenaged daughters but we do not take pains to warn our sons, whereas it is mainly the boys especially uncontrolled ones who are found to be involved in crimes against women. Why not set our houses in order ? Charity begins at home. Let’s start now as it is not too late to start good habits. Let’s stop the habit of putting the blame on others and to be holier than thou. Garo Hills is not an exception. Problems can only be sorted out with community involvement. Nothing is impossible. By saying this I am not saying that police are devoid of faults but we must be ready to appreciate what is right and also be ready to call a spade a spade.
I hope our youth in Garo Hills will march ahead and endeavour to reclaim the society from the forces of evil.
Yours etc.,
H. Gaire,
Via email