Editor,
It was really encouraging to see The Shillong Times report taking a strong stance against open advertising of firearms sale as seen in the front page news report captioned, “An Open Invitation to Buy Firearms!” (ST Aug 31, 2014). The Shillong Times news section commented on the advertisement brought out by Rifle Manufacturer, Ishapore. I just hope that in future the advertisement section of The Shillong Times will take the same ethical stance taken by its reporter before taking payment for and publishing a quarter page advertisement for firearms sale by the same manufacturer as it did in the Aug 30 version of the paper which published the advertisement.
Yours etc.,
Joshua Rynjah,
Via email
An idea for Loreto Convent
Editor,
The management at Loreto Convent Shillong might want to contact its alumni, especially those with jobs overseas, to ask for donations to fund its increased expenses. Instead of charging current students exorbitant extra fees, it makes more sense to ask for donations from ex-LC students who benefited from the wonderful atmosphere of this school. It is only fair to ask those who have received so much, to also give back.
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Purdue University,
USA
Corruption at the root of militancy
Editor,
There are three news items that caught my attention in the past few days, and they are somewhat related to one another: (1) The Honourable Supreme Court’s advice to the PM and CMs not to appoint tainted persons in the ministry (2) The representatives from Garo Hills meeting together to find a solution to the deteriorating law and order situation in the area (3) The impudence of a banned outfit inviting and encouraging the public to join them. What I want to bring to attention here is the relationship between corruption and militancy. While there may be many reasons for the growth of militancy, yet personally, I think the main reason is the rampant corruption which we find at all levels in the State of Meghalaya. Militancy feeds on a corrupt system. The advice given by the Supreme Court must be based on what the honourable judges have observed in the political environment in our country. While we all long for peace, yet, this cannot happen unless every segment of the citizenry, including (and especially) the leaders desire righteousness, justice and restoration. We cry for Peace, and yet, somehow, that has become mere lip service nowadays, because we are not really serious about rooting out injustice and exploitation. Unless the latter are addressed, peace will be just a byword, and restoration a fragile affair, at best. The corrupt and the criminals must be punished, and not honoured (as the trend seems to be nowadays). While we must seek ways and means to bring about restoration and reconciliation, yet, it cannot, and should not, be at the cost of justice and righteousness. My prayer is that righteousness and truth will prevail, so that peace can become a reality.
Yours etc.,
Tejdor Tiewsoh
Shillong – 4
Good Samaritans still around
Editor,
As a woman learning to drive, I was already apprehensive of the traffic even before I left home one wet, rain drenched busy evening. To add to my worries, there was a power cut and it was dark. After successfully navigating my way through Laitumkhrah main road in the busy rush hour traffic, I was just beginning to congratulate myself on being an excellent student, when out of the blue, I got stuck. The car wouldn’t move. Cars were piling behind me. Drivers were honking and passers-by were stopped and stared. Minutes passed. All the while I was trying and turning red. It was most embarrassing. And then a man crossed the road, a complete stranger and informed me very politely as to what mistake I was making. I thanked him in the confusion, followed his instructions and lo and behold, I was off. This incident made me realize that maybe the world is not all bad. Often we see and hear only the negatives of situations but such small acts of kindness make a big impact. Would I have had pity on someone in that position and taken the trouble to cross the busy road to inform them of their mistake if I was on the other side? Probably not! But now, I probably would. Thanks to the help of a complete stranger. And also the patient driver of the car immediately behind me who saw my “L” and didn’t honk even once during my ordeal. This is a tribute to their kindness and patience.
Yours etc.
Iba Marbaniang,
Via email
MeECL in dire straits
Editor,
What is supposed to be a platform of convenience to the consumers, in turn became an incubi to many. Yes indeed the recent switch by the management to spot billing, e-billing and other ICT mechanisms proved fatal. Though the idea to move to e-platform was a noble aim, encouraging swift processing (in bill generation, bill payment) transparency, strengthening efficiency, reduction in human labour are some of the benefits to name few, but why did the whole process go haywire with inflated bills witnessed by many consumers? What has added fuel to public anger is the poor standard of grievance redressal mechanism in MeECL.
Other states have smoothly gone through this transformation with few glitches or none at all and this could happen only with prior planning and execution of the same affectively, adequate capacity building, trained labour to handle any post operation defects etc., but in our case the opposite happened. The operation was launched before the entire supporting infrastructure and trained staff was in place. In the last one month or so after the launch of the new billing system consumers were agitated by the inflated bills plus the harassment of not being able to address their grievances or to get a satisfactory explanation from the MeECL staff. All this has left a bitter taste in the mouth of MeECL consumers.
Yours etc.,
Sonie Kharduit,
New Delhi
Milk Crisis
Madam,
This is with references to the letter to the editor column under the title” Milk scarcity and alcoholed abundance ” dated 28th August – 2014. The city of Shillong facing the worst kind of milk crisis especially those families were infants are depending on cow milk as a food substitute. That the smti Deobora Marak ,animal and husbandry minister Govt of Meghalaya visited Gujrat recently praised shri Narandra Modi for progress especially in milk production in Gujrat and requested him to set up Amul Milk Plant here in Meghalaya .
That till 1986 the milk production in the shilling was surplus but agitation of 1987 led to mass exodus milk producing community from interior of East Khasi Hills and Re – Bhoi district badly affected the milk production . The Nepali speaking milk producing community were energetic and enterprise and they were working hand in hand with the local indigenous people for milk production. The European country Belgium is the leading producer of milk and chocolate in Europe and Belgium has utilized the ninty percent service of displaced Nepali milk producer who were displaced from Meghalaya in their milk production units . We have to learn form the past mistake.
Yours etc.,
Shri D.P.Joshi