Editor,
Enough has been said in newspaper columns and letters to the editors about the urgent need to legislate and give legal status to our system of grassroots governance. But, we have not moved an inch towards that goal and the process has not even started. The government has used its time-tested method to solve a problem, that is to constitute a committee and the matter ends there. Problem (for the government) solved! The people at large remain confused and frustrated. Therefore, the time now is to act, not in the streets by burning tyres, shops, etc. (I shudder to think of the etc) but by burning the midnight oil to do some serious work. We need a panel not to advise or give recommendations but to actually draft the bill to be introduced in the Assembly. I believe a new panel as suggested by Mr. Toki Blah (ST, 05/05/2015) would be able to deliver. The draft bill should be widely circulated for suggestions and comments. The entire process has to be time bound. It need not be a flawless bill. Loopholes may be there. Nonetheless, let us start with something since the Act can be amended later. But first of all, we need to empower such a panel.
In the meantime, some people hold that the passing of such a law in the Assembly will intrude into the jurisdiction of the District Councils to ‘preserve and uphold our traditional customs’. Now, which traditional customs are we talking about? Is it the old tradition of ‘kamai ia ka hok’ and working for ‘ka bhalang ka imlang ka sahlang’? In my opinion, in the context of the Dorbar Shnong, these are the only values worth preserving. But the society is moving farther and farther away from these traditional values. Incidents of abuse of power galore, though there still exist good and dedicated headmen. Therefore, framing a law on this issue is not about preserving traditional customs. It is about framing a modern law which will define the powers and functions of the headmen and will put in place a system of checks and balances so that we may see the said values again in our society. Let us have a new custom.
Yours etc.,
V. Pala
NEHU
Non-performing MLA
Editor,
Apropos to the letters published in your esteemed daily (ST may 1, 2015) I would like to remind the readers of the destructive attitude of the MLA of Shella Constituency against honest and hard working government officials, combined with his lethargic attitude to development of the Sohra – Shella area. It is worth mentioning that thousands of tourists both domestic and foreign flock to Sohra daily, with hundreds of vehicles plying on the Shillong- Sohra road each day. However, the approach roads towards the tourist spots are pathetic. For example the road from Sohra to Thangkharang Park has been in a very bad shape for donkey’s years. The same road leading further towards Ichamati is still of the same size since the day it was constructed. There has been no attempt to widen it. The MLA has not taken initiative to widen this road nor has he spoken a single word on this issue in the Assembly since he is busy playing cheap politics. I recollect the notorious acts of this MLA when he was a Home Minister in 1998. In order to cover up the murder committed by one of his muscle-men at Kalatek village ( Patharghat) he transferred the SP, East Khasi Hills District, the SDPO Sohra and the Magistrate of Sohra.
Yours etc.,
Badondor L Lyngdoh
Shillong-14
False prophets guiding our destiny
Editor,
Our destiny has been hijacked by false prophets claiming to speak on our behalf. Who appointed these people to be guardians of society is anyone’s guess. Ordinary people like you and me were initially taken in by their protectionist philosophy which we thought would save us from the bogeyman ‘outsider’. This ill-founded fear helped them to seize control over our minds and use it to steer us like puppets. State Govts too used their services in one way or another and blessed them with unofficial ruling status, thereby feeding their massive egos to the extent that they became unmanageable. After the landmark High Court ruling against Rangbah Shnongs, pressure groups joined hands with power-hungry Rangbah Shnongs in a desperate bid to reverse the judgement. Rabid, venom-spewing politicians and pressure group hate-mongers have banded together to defy the High Court. Daniel Khyriem and other pressure group leaders capitalized on the Govt’s reluctance to prosecute them for ILP violence. Apparently a deal with the Govt to drop ILP damage charges went sour, as revealed recently. The looting/burning typical of these criminal elements followed Khyriem’s arrest on 7th May. Khyriem himself masterminded this unrest by refusing to apply for bail. The well-coached KSU supporters created mayhem thereafter. This was all pre-planned to force the issue and get relief from the ILP damage suit. No doubt we will soon see other crazed, venomous leaders like Joe Marwein follow Khyriem’s example. The drama being played out should not be taken seriously by common people. This is nothing new, and needs to be taken in our stride. We have been through several iterations of the same roadblock-bandh-burning-killing saga already in our short history,. Pressure groups and rabble-rousing politicians will continue this cycle of violence and destruction while Govt. will continue to imitate Nero fiddling away while Rome burns. So lets just start stocking up for the siege ahead and let this charade play itself out. Peace will descend again when Christmas arrives. After that, it will be on to the next round of roadblock-bandh-burning-killing spree for ordinary Meghalayans. Just another day in our miserable lives, and business as usual for our great leaders. Aren’t we a lucky people to have these leaders of immense vision and statesmanship to guide our destiny into hell?
Yours etc.,
Shillong-3
Take politics out of ILP
Editor,
The front pages of every newspaper scream about the arrest of the President of Khasi Students Union. Add to this is the display of political bad blood, blame game, pot shots and rhetoric from every Tom, Dick and Harry. The only thing to salvage the situation from getting out of hand is to resume talks and sit across the table to define the finer points of the ILP. However, if regional or national based political parties are to take mileage of the success or failure of having a mechanism equivalent to ILP, then political brownie points should be scored to gather public opinion and votes. Ultimately it is not the ILP that majority of the youths of this generation want but to have job opportunities, decent living standards and availability of basic civic amenities as part of the democratic society we live in.
Yours etc. ..
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3