Editor,
If there is a singular issue that defines the 21st Century, it is this generation’s concern over the environment. Youth today is anxious over its future; resentful of the survival burden handed down by their fathers. The emergence of a group of educated youth calling themselves the Meghalaya Eco-Friendly Students Union ( MEFSU) is a clear pointer that our state is also set to join mankind’s struggle to return from the brink of self destruction. So refreshingly different from the greed of the older generation who want to finish off this planet within their own miserable lifetime! Youngsters realise there is a tomorrow that they will inherit. It’s something they are prepared to live and fight for.
The MEFSU is ready to approach the NGT on the question of gross violation of the Meghalaya’s Forest Conservation Act by cement companies. Good show and they need support. We need to know under whose Chief Ministership were community and reserved forests of the state; its vast and precious limestone reserves, bartered away for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver? This is a good start for an investigation into the suspected corruption by elected political leaders. It’s time we demand accountability from our politicians. It’s high time they were taught that wining an election should not translate into an auction of the states assets and resources to the highest bidder!
It’s also time perhaps for the Congress party and the Govt it heads to give second thoughts to its overt anti NGT stance. If the Congress stand is based on perceived popular demand, then it’s high time it started assessing the support the NGT ban on rat hole mining, has with a majority of the electorate. They might be in for a big nasty surprise. If there are a few moneyed people worried about their business and livelihood there are thousands who are more, if not equally, worried about the environment; our forests; our drinking water; the future of our children and about survival of the Jaitbynriew itself.
If the MEFSU can take a pro environment stand with an objective of safeguarding the future of the state and its people, it’s shameful to see Congress politicians scrambling over themselves to ensure a paradigm that perpetuates extractive mining for the benefit of a few at the cost of many. The call for constitutional amendment to safeguard rat hole mining therefore makes no political sense, unless Meghalaya politics is determined by money and not by the electorate. To my limited understanding, politics should not be limited to grabbing power; making money or lining ones pockets. It’s not about protecting the interest of money bags. Politics is about service to the people; service not only to this generation but also Hope for the next. Save the environment to save the next generation !
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Hypocrisy at all levels
Editor,
Each day as I read the newspapers I get a sick feeling in my stomach. This is because of the hypocrisy that I see all around. Take the NGT ban on coal extraction. The state government, led conspicuously from the front by the Chief Minister and our MP Mr Vincent Pala, is so eager and quick to have the ban lifted and is spending lakhs of public money to have the ban overturned. And what is the reason they give? That people are going to die of starvation! How many people have died so far due to starvation because of this ban? Nil. And when mining was going on and miners died in the rat holes, there was not even a whimper from Government and spends peanuts on their deaths. So much for the concern of the government on deaths because of the mining issue!
Next, the situation in Garo Hills is so bad and is going worse by the day. The State Government says that we have less manpower in the police. But do you see how many vehicles and policemen follow the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries everywhere? Does this indicate shortage of security people? What hypocrisy!
Again, the state government says that it alone cannot tackle the militancy problem in the State because of vague reasons. But in the same breath, no one among the politicians, ruling or opposition, want to bring in the army! Why? Does this not indicate two things? One, that they are afraid that the army will crush the militants. Two, they are afraid that they will then lose one tool to ensure their continuation in politics and in leadership! Nothing but hypocrisy!
Lastly, whenever a militant organization calls a bandh etc. or issue statements the media gives front page coverage to such news! At the same time, it lambasts the government for not being able to restore law and order and even the public for remaining silent. Is this not putting its foot on both sides of the fence? But what is most despicable is your paper carrying a half page advertisement of the National Ordinance Factories inviting buyers for weapons, and the very next day you carry out a front page news item of your correspondent entitled “An open invitation to buy arms!” You have no qualms in publishing the advertisement (and taking the money) but next day attack the issuers of the advertisement! It you felt that this is wrong, you should have refused to print the advertisement in the first place! You are having the cake and eating it too! Hypocrisy at the highest is manifested here!
Yours etc,
Sertush B. Marak
Tura – 2