Editor,
In his article “Traditional mining can be made compatible with the environment” (ST Nov 15, 2014), Erwin K. Syiem Sutnga has mentioned that the NGT ban on coal mining has ‘directly’ affected nearly 10 lakh people and ‘indirectly’ countless others. I would like to request him to share with the public the source of the survey that has resulted in this estimate. As per the 2011 census, the number of all workers, including main and marginal workers, in the entire state of Meghalaya was 11.85 lakhs. The total number of workers in rural undivided Jaintia Hills was 1.43 lakhs with a population of 3.66 lakhs. The entire population of Meghalaya was 29.67 lakhs. Has the ban affected one-third of the population of the state? This is untenable since mining and quarrying contributed just 7.5 percent of the state gross domestic product in 2012-13.
Yours etc.,
Dr. V. Pala
NEHU
What vengeance is this!
Editor,
It is painful to see the barbaric and inhumane acts being perpetrated against poor non – tribal residents of Shillong. Non- tribals (genuine/outsiders) have always been made scapegoats for political mileage by politicians. Non-tribals are victims of ethnic hatred fomented by organisations calling themselves a students’ union. The ongoing verification drive by police authorities in the wee hours of morning is inhuman and grotesque. On the pretext of a verification drive, non tribals are harassed by cops at dawn when all are sleeping peacefully. Aren’t the police authorities infringing on the Fundamental Rights (Right to life) which includes right to sleep of the victims? I wonder what would have been the outcome if a similar verification drive is conducted against tribals elsewhere. There would be ruckus in the streets, followed by bandhs, arson, vandalism and high decibel protests against human rights violations. As if only tribals are humans and the non-tribals are stateless people with no rights whatsoever. Are we living in a free country when non-tribals are constantly harassed and made to feel as if Meghalaya is not part of India and that we are interlopers?
Yours etc.,
Sunil Khanal
Shillong- 2
A project destined to fail
Editor,
Apropos the news item ” Sohra Project on track””(ST 11th November 2014) , it is doubtful that the Eco-Restoration project at Sohra will achieve its defined objectives. t is a known fact that vast areas in the Sohra Belt have been in a denuded state and devoid of ample vegetative cover for centuries. Therefore, to expect that the project with a time frame of only six years will have a definite influence in changing the existing scenario is highly unrealistic. From recent newspaper reports it appears that the state government Department which is implementing this project is venturing more into creating recreational parks or tourist hubs in the area out of the funds of this project. Though these activities may be included in the scheme of things, these can only be auxiliaries to the crucial initiative that is required for the process of ecological restoration and that is to bring back the area under healthy vegetative cover and to sustain such vegetative growth for many many years. However, massive tree planting efforts tried in this area in the past by the State Forest Department proved to be a failure as the planted forest seedlings never survived even for a few years because of the chronic poor soil condition in the area and most importantly because of the fire incidents which occur every year in this belt which destroy these planted seedlings. In fact, only recently there were newspaper reports that a large number of seedlings which were planted during the early years of implementation of this Eco-Restoration Project were already gutted by fire and fresh replanting at extra expenditures would be necessary. Therefore going by experiences of the past and when it cannot be guaranteed that fire incidents can be curbed in the near future, continuation of this project at such a huge cost may be a futile exercise. I hope that those involved in the conception and implementation of the project are more down to earth in their thinking in order to avoid colossal waste of public money.
Yours etc.,
D Syiemlieh,
Via email
Apathy of retired civil servants
Editor,
In his article “The Bridge to nowhere” (ST October 7, 2014), Toki Blah stated that forty three years of Meghalaya statehood and experience with politics, political parties and politicians of the state has left nothing but a bad taste in the mouth and I agree with him completely. Like him I am also equally concerned with the reluctance of the intelligentsia, and people from academia, people with administrative experiences and opinion makers to step out of their ivory towers, come out into the open to provide a sense of direction to society. These people have the experience to provide a crucial leadership role in helping to improve the mindsets of many to have a better perspectives of things that concern the welfare of the state and its people and the processes involved for their uplift. I am certain that people with administrative experience who held responsible positions in government are in a position to provide better sense of direction provided they come forward after their retirement from service. Unfortunately , most of these people choose to retreat into a shells and at the most, guardedly express themselves to a limited circle in selective social gatherings or within the four walls of living rooms but no further. There are others who want to hang on with Government even after retirement and don’t hesitate to accept sinecure government postings with perks and facilities in addition to their retirement benefits even though such postings do not have any meaningful contribution towards the State and its people. Let us hope there is change of heart in these people in the near future for the best interests of the state and its people .
Yours etc.,
R Sawkmie,
Via email