Editor,
“Health is Wealth” and “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” are exhortations that have relevance through time and space. A clean environment is essential for every soul. We cannot depend solely on the Government, societies, NGOs etc to work towards keeping and maintaining healthy and clean surroundings. Every individual citizen has to work towards that goal. Thus when localities, schools, colleges, NGOs and societies organise cleaning drives it is not only praiseworthy and appreciative but highly encouraging. Perhaps we must have these more often or even on a weekly or monthly basis. The initiative taken by the North Shillong Welfare Development Society is encouraging if it could be carried out in letter and spirit. What is also commendable is what the Secretary (administration) of the Society, Farida Warjri highlighted. She says, “The Society would not be creating any mini garbage-collection centres, but to would clean up and teach others to do the same through awareness.” This is essential as we the people must not only wait for others to clean our mess but start inculcating good habits of controlling the random disposal of garbage because as the saying goes, “Charity begins at home.”
However, in the same news item in your daily, the Urban Affairs Minister asserted that, “The practice of road side stalls on pavements was against the law and punishable.” If this is the case then why is the law not taking the violators to task and punishing them as per the rules? The number of hawkers in and around Motphran have become an eyesore. The Government must maintain strict vigil so that every Tom, Dick and Harry cannot start setting up shops on footpaths and roads meant for pedestrians and vehicles. If anyone does so they are liable to punishment as per the law. This would also act as a deterrent for others who may attempt to do so. Indiscriminate intrusion by hawkers must be controlled and they must be provided a space of their own.
Yours etc,,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Amendment of District Council rules
Editor,
Dr Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya said that he would visit Delhi to impress upon the Central leaders for amendment of the existing District Council rules. It is a welcome step. While amending the District Council rules, provision may be made to nominate the genuine non-tribal population of the state to the District Councils so that the non-tribal stake holders also have the chance to participate in the framing of rules and regulations of the Council. Originally when the Sixth Schedule was implemented and the District Council came into existence in 1952, three non-tribals were nominated to the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills (UK&J Hills) autonomous District Council representing the Gorkha, Bengali and Assamese communities of erstwhile Assam. Even the non-tribals were allowed to contest the District Council Election. Late Lok Nath Joshi representing the Gorkha Community was nominated to the District Council. Late Bhaskar Choudhury of Laban, Shillong contested the District Council Election and won. He was the MDC even after creation of Meghalaya. Many non-tribal candidates used to contest the District Council Election in the past. Later there was “A Gentleman’s Agreement” between the tribal leaders like late B.B.Lyngdoh, D.D.Lapang etc. of Meghalaya and the non-tribal leaders that the non-tribals would refrain from contesting the District Council Elections but instead they would be nominated to the Council. Accordingly the provision of ‘Nomination’ was brought in the Acts and Rules of the District Council. Sadly the Meghalaya Government deviated from the “Gentleman’s Agreement” and did away with the nomination of non-tribal members. Since then not a single non-tribal has been nominated to the Councils in recent human memory. Instead a tribal member has been nominated under the same provisions.
In Garo Hills non-tribals have been participating in the District Council elections and many non-tribals have been elected to the GHADC also. In a democracy the representative(s) of the stake-holders must be in the policy making body. The non-tribals have to follow the rules and regulations framed by the District Councils but without allowing them to participate in the deliberations. The Gorkhas have been living in Meghalaya for nearly 200 years and contributed a lot for development of the state. The Gorkhas are Hill people and tribal by nature. It is a different matter that the Gorkhas have not been recognized as tribals in Meghalaya. Like most of the tribals, Gorkhas are also animists and have all the characteristics of tribals. As such the states of West Bengal and Sikkim have recognised many castes belonging to the Gorkha Community as tribal. The Rai, Limbu, Tamang, Lama, Gurung, Magar etc. have been recognized as tribals in those States and Kami Damai Sarki and Thami have been recognized as scheduled castes. The Chettri Bahun (Brahmin) and Giri have been fighting for tribal status in the State of West Bengal under the banner of “Khas Hitkari Sammelan” and it is learnt that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha of Darjeeling strongly recommended the inclusion of Chettri, Bahun and Giri as tribals to the State Government of West Bengal. Ms Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal has assured the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha to sympathetically consider their demand. Will the Meghalaya Government follow this noble path?
Yours etc.,
B B Chettri,
Shillong-2