Editor,
It was interesting to read about the claim of the KHADC Executive Member that the Rangbah Shnong are empowered under the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act of 1952 to issue NOCs to those who apply for trading licences despite the ruling of the High Court of Meghalaya in December last year.
The article was of interest to me since our family recently went through the experience of trying to obtain an NOC from the office of the headman of our locality. Our house in Nongrim Hills was built by my late father more than 50 years ago and our family has lived there ever since. Late last year we decided to build an extension on top of the 2-room cottage ( measuring 20ft X 10ft ) in our compound next to the main house and a letter was sent by my 85-year old mother to the headman giving details of the intended construction.
After nearly 5 months, during which time several visits were made to the office of the Dorbar Shnong, not to mention submission of a building plan on two occasions ( my drawing was rejected and I had to request an architect to draw the plan for the 2-room cottage! ) the much-awaited approval was finally received from the Rangbah Shnong on payment of a ‘building permission fee’ for which a receipt was obtained.
My story has a happy ending but I could not help but wonder – why should it be so difficult for a family who has lived in Shillong all their lives to add a couple of rooms to their own house?
Yours etc.,
Zomuana Hranga
Retired ( Air India )
Via email
Rejoinder from Police Dept
Editor,
Apropos the letter by Anandi Gabil (ST April 10, 2015), I wish to inform that Meghalaya Police is conducted the promotion board for the posts of Unarmed Branch Inspectors to the next grade on April 10, 2015. This is not a direct recruitment. This is to enlighten the members of the public that the Posts of Unarmed Branch Inspectors are filled up only by promotion. The process is based on objective ways of assessing the eligible Unarmed Branch Sub Inspectors. The process is fair and transparent. There is no extraneous pressure of any kind on the Board. The board is adopting the principle of seniority cum merit.
Yours etc.,
B L Buam
ADGP TAP,
Meghalaya Police,
Shillong
A Rejoinder
Editor,
With reference to ‘Tagore Recall’ published in the Canvas section of The Shillong Times dated 12 April 2015, I would like to thank Bimala Basu Dutta for drawing my attention to ‘Tagore and Pineland Shillong’. The book was originally printed and published by Asian Confluence, last July and fell short on various areas with innumerable typological errors, poor page editing, crunch of ideas and thoughts and overall poor getup. It did not match my level of expectations and I rejected the book outright and stopped the publisher from bringing the book to the market. It is my intellectual property and I detest putting my reputation at stake. I was rather taken aback to see how the rejected material got into the market.
In a couple of weeks from now, finally my book “Tagore and Pineland Shillong’ is all set to be released bearing ISBN 978-93-5212-465-7. This book is self published printed by Singhania Printers. Henceforth I consciously claim that ‘Tagore and Pineland Shillong’ has no association or link whatsoever with Asian Confluence and Divya Jeevan Foundation. The hard covered book contains around 280 pages with adequate contents and pictures. Hopefully the readers would appreciate the content as well as the hard work I have put in to share the information with them.
Yours etc.,
Uma Purkayastha,
Shillong- 4