Editor,
I too would like to share my concern together with Geetanjali T ( Star of David write-up ST Nov 3, 2014) over the KHADC attempt to segregate on ethnic lines, the porters of Iewduh. There is no dispute on the need to register Iewduh porters. It provides customer security and as a matter of fact it should have been done a long time ago. The call to officially discriminate, and that too by an authority such as the KHADC, between Khasi and non-tribal porters however, is not understood nor appreciated. One fails to see how it adds value to better management of Iewduh. A porter is a porter, Khasi or otherwise, and he is there to provide service while he earns his livelihood at the same time. If there is need to indentify, please do it by numbers and not on ethnic identity. Register by all means so as to provide better customer service but let’s not do it simply to score cheap, thoughtless political points.
Meghalaya is already a state with communal and ethnic tensions simmering below the surface. Most of this tension is man-made and a major part of the blame goes to thoughtless and visionless political leadership. The people of Meghalaya have been victims of this opportunistic divide and rule policy which politicians love to play. Its a dangerous game that leads more often than not to rioting, arson, death and breakdown of law and order. As a state, we have paid heavily for such political indiscretions in terms of economic growth and development. Worse it has also psychologically brought in a mindset that believes tribal survival is all about isolating ourselves from others. Its been proven time and again that emotional kneejerk responses to situations have done us more harm than good. Time we allowed rational thinking to take the lead. Those who have the best interests of Meghalaya at heart will understand what I mean. Those who insist in dragging all of us back to the dark ages, will of course vehemently disagree. My appeal is for wiser counsels in the KHADC to give the matter a rethink before it lands everyone in unnecessary trouble.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
ILP or any other mechanism
Editor,
Much has been talked about ILP and influx of illegal immigrants into the State of Meghalaya. Different writers had expressed varying views some for and others against the ILP but the views expressed by HH Mohrmen in The Shillong Times (Sept 2013) were discouraging, obstructionist and hinders the progress of the movement of the pressure groups. According to him, many problems will arise if ILP is implemented such as traffic jams at Khanapara, passengers booking tickets for Silchar but getting down at Lad Rymbai etc. The ILP or any other mechanism is indispensable to check influx and to safeguard and protect the identity of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities of the State. I would like to ask how ILP is being implemented in other states of the Northeast? Nagaland is a transit state, so also the state of Meghalaya. All vehicles going to Manipur have to pass through the state of Nagaland. Same is the case with all those vehicles going to Silchar, etc which have to pass through the state of Meghalaya. While going to Kohima, from Dimapur, the check gate is located within the boundary of the state of Nagaland, at a distance of 8-9 kilometres from the bus terminal of Dimapur. There is no traffic jam as the vehicles come and go at different timings. In Meghalaya, there is no need to set up a check gate at Khanapara. Byrnihat is the right place.
For public interest and for transparency in checking, it would be better for the Government to bring legislation in the Assembly to empower the NGOs, and student organizations to be a part of the system of checking influx of illegal immigrants at the entry point along with the State Police. The role of the Dorbar Shnong, local clubs of the localities should also be taken into account. Checking of influx of illegal immigrant inside towns, villages and localities should be entrusted to these local bodies. Involvement of all these groups is necessary for the ILP to be effective and workable.
Yours etc.,
SG Laloo,
Jowai
Time to shift focus
Editor,
Meghalaya is indeed fortunate to have a fun loving Chief Minister who is also a great lover of music, arts and culture and is adept in playing musical chairs otherwise how can one expect an event called 18 degrees to be organised at a colossal expenditure of Rs 1.4 crore when the state is reeling from a severe economic crisis compounded with the crisis in Garo hills. What came as a shock was a report in the newspaper about the non-payment of salaries to the MCCL staff whereas the Government did not blink once to sanction such a huge amount for the event. It would be appropriate for the Chief Minister and his cronies to shift focus from 18 degrees lateral and look straight when it comes to dealing with the affairs of the state. Whether the event is really going to benefit the local youths as envisaged or a handful few in the high-ups of bureaucracy needs to be ascertained. Rather than raking up non-issues unnecessarily it would be a worthwhile exercise for various NGOs to get into the details of these events to find the real beneficiaries.
Yours etc.,
James Shadap
Shillong -2
A word out of place
Editor,
On Sunday, November 2, 2014, Shillong witnessed a historic and momentous event when the consecration and installation of the Rt. Rev. Michael Herenz as the Bishop of the Diocese of North East India, in the Church of North India, was solemnized at the All Saints’ Cathedral. Being only in his early forties, the new Bishop will remain at the helm of affairs for more than two decades in arguably the foremost amongst the protestant denominations in these parts of the country. Much shall surely be done during this period of time. Glimpses of the Bishop’s magnanimous and amiable disposition, that was very visible on the first day itself, augurs well for the whole Church. Indeed the day was a very blessed one. Only one word of caution! The statement by one of the speakers, during the felicitations towards the end of the program, urging the new Bishop to remain always alert to the fact that the Church of North India is essentially a church of the Dalits and the tribal people, may not be conducive to augment true Christian service as the Lord Jesus came and died for the salvation of the whole human race and not for particular sections of the populace.
Yours etc.
Subhasis Tilak Chakrawarty,
Via email