Editor,
Apropos the news item “ Mukul targets poverty free Meghalaya by 2022”(ST March 19, 2015), the enthusiasm of the Chief Minister is betrayed by the budget allocations to the different government departments which indicate that there are no serious thoughts on the ways and means to reach this target . For instance, agriculture is the mainstay of almost 80% of the rural people and will continue to be so and there is vast potential for horticulture which can provide sustained livelihood for the rural population. However, the allocation for Agriculture and Horticulture is not as substantial as that of the other development departments. The sister department “Water Resources “ which has got to do more with irrigation is getting a much higher allocation whereas emphasis should be on the Agriculture Department to boost up crop production in these irrigated areas through double cropping or triple cropping which has not been done yet, as otherwise it is pointless to take up more irrigation works. The government should also make efforts to improve the performance of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department because of its vast potential in the state and not to write it off as insignificant with a low budget allocation. There have been such efforts in the Fisheries Department which is encouraging. Further, the state cannot be poverty free if the health of its citizens is not improved. It would be logical therefore to allocate more funds to the Health Department as the present allocation appears to be inadequate. Emphasis should also be more on road connectivity particularly in the rural areas Strangely, the Soil and Water Conservation Department and the Tourism Departments are getting huge allocations. The practicability of these Departments taking in many new projects every year is questionable as tangible impacts of their activities would rest more on sustained efforts on existing projects with people’s participation. In fact ,the Soil and Water Conservation Department has recently been criticized for deviating from its objectives and lately we have seen a number of buildings by the road side constructed by the Tourism Department including those at Mawlynnong village which do not serve any purpose. Probably the allocation to these two Departments was made on the basis of their ability to submit projects and not according to necessity. The allocations to the other Departments are also unrealistic. It is apparent that the budget allocation is a mere routine clerical exercise completed by some officials in the government where thorough planning is lacking. It is high time that the State have a strong and effective planning body to design a road map for the proper development of the state with appropriate budget allocations in key departments as otherwise we can never be a poverty free state forever.
Yours etc.,
K Dkhar,
Shillong-2
SPTS stops issuing tickets
Editor, ,
I am surprised that issue of tickets has been stopped in the SPTS buses in Shillong. I happened to board one of the buses plying from IGP Point to Iewduh on the March 27 on a bus with Regn No ML 01 – 6811. When I asked for the ticket, I was informed by the bus conductor that the Government has stopped issuing bus tickets to them, hence they cannot issue tickets to passengers. I was also shouted at by the conductor for demanding the ticket and change. Is it not high time for the authorities to at least train their employees to behave properly with all commuters especially the women and elderly. The buses should also provide currency notes/coins of small denomination so that change can be returned back in full to the commuters. Timing of collection of bus fares should be also be prescribed, not to let the bus conductors collect the fares at or near the disembarkation point intentionally so that commuters forfeit the changes etc. The main issue here is that a passenger has the right to get a ticket for the journey made.
Yours etc.,
D. Mawroh
Shillong- 14