Editor,
‘No Smoking!’ Everyone is familiar with this sign in Shillong. We see this sign in various places—offices, shops, hospitals, etc. But the most common places to find them are in taxi cabs. I appreciate the fact that this sign is put up in taxis but what is the use of the ‘No Smoking’ sign if people ignore it. Recently, my mother and I were travelling in a taxi and it was a surprise to us that the driver himself was smoking. So, how can we expect passengers not to smoke when this kind of example is set by the taxi driver? Smoking not only puts the driver’s life at stake but the passengers’ health too is at risk. We are the ones who inhale the toxic air continuously for about 10-20 minutes. I hope whoever the person was (and also other people who do the same) would realize this fact and not repeat this punishable act. Shillong should be proud of the good transport system which we have in comparison to other places in the North-East but if such acts continue, I would be really ashamed and embarrassed, knowing that tourists might also be using the same means of transport and facing this same careless attitude from such people.
Yours etc.,
Athira Saji
Shillong-14
At last we have a District head!
Editor,
The people of South Garo Hills are now heaving a sigh of relief to have a Deputy Commissioner after much mental agony and pain of not having the appropriate authority to take care of day to day affairs of administration in South Garo Hills. All these days anti-social elements have been mushrooming and taking advantage of the absence of the district authority. We are far away from the state capital and suffer from telephone, power, and internet breakdown. The question we would like to ask is whether there is shortage of suitable IAS officers for posting as DC? Or is it that no one wants to work in trouble torn areas and to face challenges? If so why not fill up the posts of Deputy Commissioners with suitable MCS officers? Just because Personnel Department considers it a taboo to post MCS officers as DCs should the people of the state be left unattended and uncared for ? The top echelon of administration is sitting in the Ivory Tower at Shillong; they do not feel the miseries of the people in the far flung districts and leave the hapless citizens in the lurch. What about our fellow citizens of East Garo Hills? Are they going to get a DC soon or should they be ignored and be ruled forever by militant elements and extortionists?. Let us be reminded of the genesis of militancy and crime in Garo Hills over the last two decades. East and South Garo Hills never had regular DCs continuously for even two years during the last two decades because our government posted only IAS officers in the Districts as DCs and these officers have the choice to leave the district after few months on one excuse or the other especially during times of crisis. Most often stop gap arrangements are made by giving charge to ADCs who have no capacity to take big responsibilities and hard decisions. Hence militants take advantage of the absence of legal authorities in these districts. Going by the records one can find that these two districts have been neglected by all governments be they Congress , NCP or Regional Parties, and it is now a proven fact that these are the two districts of Meghalaya where militancy is mushrooming.
Yours etc.,
Albert M Sangma
Baghmara
Repairing of roads in RR Colony
Editor,
Your paper had recently reported that the roads in RR Colony have not been repaired for the last 30 years, as stated by the MLA, Jemino Mawthoh. As a result of that news report the main roads are being repaired and black topped. However the bye lanes have been left unrepaired except for two by lanes 11 & 13 which both lead to the property of a Minister in the present Government. I would like to ask the concerned authorities through your esteemed newspaper why this step motherly treatment is meted out to the residents of the other lanes. Do we require a Minister, MLA or VIP to build or own a house in the other bye lanes for the roads to be repaired? Is this not injustice to the residents. Is this not misuse of government machinery for personal gain? Is this not a form of corruption?
I hope this letter has some impact and all the roads in the by lanes are repaired and no step motherly treatment is meted out to the non VIP residents of RR Colony.
Yours etc.,
Anjan Das
RR Colony,
Shillong-6