Editor,
Signboards such as ‘No Smoking’ are a mockery of the law and to those who are to enforce the law. The law on smoking is specific. It is illegal to smoke in public places. But in every nook and corner of the city, you can see people smoking in public. What is disgusting is that even inside crowded buses and taxis insensitive compulsive smokers puff away without a care for those sitting alongside.
It has been scientifically proven that passive smokers are the worst victims of this menace. Inhaling someone else’s cigarette smoke can increase the risk of cancer and other lung ailments. Second hand smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Smoke that burns off the end of a cigarette (called side stream smoke) may be more toxic than the mainstream smoke that a smoker would inhale.
So what right do the smokers have to impose their smoke on us and push us non smokers into the cancer zone? And who gave them this right? The obvious answer is the non-enforcement of existing laws. It is a very sorry sight to witness the non-implementation of the law against smoking in our State. Why is the Government not paying attention to this menace and turning a blind eye to it? It is true that the elite hardly face the smoking evil since the travel in their private cars. It is we the common folks who have to go through this ordeal. Each and every day, on our way to work, school, college or anywhere else there is a smoker walking in front, beside, behind or even with us, increasing our chances of cancer and seizing our right to breathe a little fresh air (if that even exists). And when, at all, you dare to speak against them, all they have to say is, “The law has no problem with me smoking, so who are you to stop me?”
Thus, you keep quiet and become part of the ‘Passive Smoker’s Class”, increasing your chances of cancer and reducing your life expectancy just because your State Government does not care about the health of the citizens of Meghalaya. I wonder what crime the innocent children have committed that they are subjected to passive smoking all the time. I call upon the concerned authorities to realize the urgency of the matter. It’s a shame that no steps have been taken thus far to penalize thosew who smoke in public.
Yours etc,
Shweta Raj Kanwar
Shillong- 7
Tainted Pastor
Editor,
The attempted kidnapping by a Pastor who is also the Principal of KJP Synod Mihngi H. S. School Jowai, which appeared in many local dailies, is no surprise at all to many who know this particular Pastor. He is a rude and uncouth, a businessman who smokes openly in public, and if the news item is true he even carries a pistol wherever he goes. We as Christians look up to the Pastors of our church who are supposed to be the shepherd of all the Christian flock. But the recent incident sets a bad precedence for the post he’s occupying. I hope and pray that the higher authority of the church i.e. `The Synod’ will take the case seriously and action should be taken against this tainted Pastor. Or should it be just an ordinary incident where life goes on and people will easily forgive and forget. Is the Synod listening?
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Jowai
Kudos Meghalaya Police!
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily I like to congratulate the State Police for successfully nabbing a gang of culprits and rescuing a girl child belonging to a poor and backward family in a recent case of abduction and child trafficking.
In the instant case prompt and proper action taken by the police department and the role played by Police officers and their staff viz. S.P. (E.K. Hills), S.P. (City,) DSP (Hqtrs.), Officer-in-Charge of Jhalupara Police station, Lumdiengjri Police Station and Phulbari Police Station is highly appreciable. The police team has very tactfully utilized their resources in rescuing the victim. One hopes the police department would continue to work with the same spirit of sincerity, hard work and dedication in future too.
Yours etc.,
C.S. Singh
Shillong-2