Editor,
It is learnt that the huge fraud involving several Saving Accounts of local public amounting to Rupees thirty seven lakhs has surfaced in Williamnagar Post Office but the Senior Superintendent of Meghalaya Division Alice K Vezo has not made any spot inquiry till date. A similar fraud had taken place in Meghalaya Secretariat Post Office amounting to Rupees thirty five lakhs. This office is located very near to the Office of the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices Meghalaya Division Shillong but here also Ms Alice K Vezo has not made any spot inquiry. This was followed by another fraud in NEIGRIHMS Post Office amounting to Rupees twenty lakhs. This too is located very near to the Office of the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Meghalaya Division Shillong but no spot enquiry has been made as yet.
Two years ago a similar fraud had taken place at Laban Post office amounting to Rupees twenty lakh. Again no spot inquiry was conducted to identify the culprit and fix responsibility. All the above instances clearly prove that the officers of the Postal Department are totally negligent in handling public money. It is also clear that the Inspectors of Post Office who were responsible for the occurrence of fraud in the Post Offices under their jurisdiction are continuing in their posts even when they have failed to supervise the post offices under their control. Major frauds involving public money is not taken seriously by the officers of Postal Department. It is a fit case for the Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya to take suo- moto cognizance and issue notices to the Officers of Postal Department to explain their negligence in the Court of Law and awarded befitting punishment for criminal negligence.
Yours etc.,
Dr Ratnadeep Swaroop,
New Delhi- 110001
Camp: Shillong
Hawker’s menace Vrs Citizens’ rights
Editor,
Apropos the letter of B Mawroh of NEHU ( ST Aug 29, 2015), I would like to point out that across the world there are people who peddle their goods in public places for sale in order earn their livelihoods, but without disturbing others. But in Shillong, of late, the hawkers have dominated the scene in Police Bazaar- Mawlong Hat- Bara Bazaar area up to Garikhana and are sitting on the public foot path, disallowing the general pedestrians from walking on the foot path thereby forcing us to walk on the already congested road, risking ourselves of being hit by vehicles. I was born and brought up in Shillong and I am now facing great inconvenience in walking through such commercial areas of Shillong. The other day a friend narrated to me that due to the rush in Khyndailad, by mistake one of his feet landed on the vegetables laid on the foot path. Suddenly the hawker sitting there shouted at him and abused him with filthy language. My friend being a gentleman had no words to argue with a woman hawker other than to say sorry for what had happened.
Another incident happened last year where a vehicle coming out from MUDA parking lot slightly dashed against a hawker selling food items at the exit of the parking lot. Immediately a crowd of about 20 persons started creating violence in Khyndailad. Thanks to the CRPF present at the point, the situation was promptly controlled. Here I would like to point out that the hawkers in Shillong have crossed the limits of liberty and decency. They are of the view that they are the only community who prevail over the general citizens of Shillong. I feel enough patronage is being extended to these hawkers so now there is no room left to condone their actions than to whisk them away from public roads and public foot paths. I congratulate Peter Dkhar, the DC and his team for taking the initiative of saving the citizens of Shillong from the tyranny of the hawkers.
Yours etc.,
Khatarbor A Kyndiah
Shillong-2
MUDA and Article 14 and 39 of the Indian Constitution
Editor,
So MUDA is in the news again! A month ago around ten staff were appointed in MUDA. Just after a month of joining service, three among the ten newly appointed staff got their promotion. Hats off to MUDA! The Department is doing yeoman’s service to the privileged few. Why this is so? Some of the staff of MUDA had joined service since 1992, and many more had been employed since 2004, 2007 and so on but they remain stagnated. Though some of the staff have been regularised they have been deprived of their increment and revised pay scales which are due as per the rules. Most of them have been appointed first on contract basis for a period of one year with a fixed pay. But just after a year MUDA allowed them to draw the pay scale applicable to their respective posts.
At the time of the implementation of the 4th Pay Commission, it surprised the staff that instead of paying them the revised pay scale which is their right, the MUDA authorities issued an order saying that the revised pay cannot be given for the non- sanctioned posts due to financial crisis. It is therefore shocking to learn that with time several staff members were appointed from time to time. So where is the question of financial crisis? Is this is purely a case of discrimination?
MUDA has also denied and deprived all the facilities that have been granted previously like Dearness Allowance, Maternity Leave, Earned Leave etc. Instead, those who want to avail such leave, especially Maternity Leave have to go on Leave Without Pay. In fact the Minister concerned who is a woman herself should have understood the issue better than anyone else. So this is how MUDA is treating its employees!
Your’s etc.,
Alexis Dohling
Shillong-14