Editor,
I fully agree with D Syiemlieh who in the letter “A project destined to fail” (ST Nov 17, 2014 stated that continuation of the Eco Restoration project at Sohra would be a futile exercise . Certainly no amount of money and human efforts can change the existing scenario of Sohra where nature has bestowed on it to be as such. Sohra boasts of being the area with the highest rainfall in the world and it is also known as the wet desert. These unique characteristics attracts tourists from all over the world just like the characteristics of the dry desert of Rajasthan mesmerizes tourists too. What is needed is for the government to build on this tourist potential of Sohra and spend money on this to help the local people improve their economy instead of wasting money on a project with unpredictable outcomes. Though Israel or other desert countries which are devoid of fertile land need to restore or improve their desert areas for agriculture or allied activities, we not need go to that extent as we have vast fertile lands either on the slopes or valleys and these lands can sustain agriculture for generations to come if properly managed. The question is how far the government focuses its attention on the protection of these lands. We still see large areas under intensive crop cultivation along steep slopes without any form of protection in the uplands of Khasi and Jaintia Hills. With the heavy rainfall in our state, there will be a constant drain of fertile soil from such land and in no time we will have more wet desert areas if such form of cultivation continues without any protection which apparently is not there. The government should therefore spend money to protect such lands by avoiding wasteful expenditures elsewhere .We cannot afford to miss the woods for the trees.
Yours etc.,
K Dkhar,
Via email
The Child
Editor,
It is refreshing to read the “Shillong Times” (22.11.2014), as on the same page, I read an article by Barnes Mawrie, and a letter from Caroline Lyngdoh. Both reflect their concern for children on two areas – physical and moral. I love children too, being a grandmother and secretly hoping to be promoted to the higher rank of being a great grandmother in the near future. True, “Why blame kids for societal failure?” Please do not blame youngsters. You may agree or disagree, but as an educationist, I happen to know the root cause of the problem with troubled kids. During my tenure of service, I always encountered a familiar greeting: “Oh, we’re so happy to entrust our difficult sons in your care!” Deep down, I was seething in anger and feel like giving a Cain-style reply, “Am I his father and mother?” Let it be known, that the primary duty of a teacher is to thoroughly complete the academic course, before the final University exams, posing a problem to the time-machine; otherwise, he or she will face the music. If lucky, value education can be inserted in between lectures. Therefore, irrespective of what faith we may belong to, why do we always shirk responsibility and never want to face the fact that Truth is always Bitter? The wise, old adage never goes in vain: “Charity begins at home.” Face it bravely and accept the faults. A child with a good moral upbringing can always stand firmly on his own principles come what may. The Bible says: “Teach a child the path that he should go, and he will never depart from it.” But this should also be spiced with love. I believe that other holy books also echo the same thought. Yet, if we persistently bend on giving a fashionable tech-age reply, “Too busy – No Time”, then I suggest to read the life of the highly intelligent persons and the root cause of turning them into international criminals.
Yours Etc.,
Cassandra Syiemlieh,
Shillong-8