Editor,
Apropos the news item about the four ministers supporting the idea of government servants as Rangbah Shnongs ( ST Feb 5, 2016 ), my views are that if government servants are allowed to join pressure groups including becoming Rangbah Shnong , it will be as bad as allowing them to take part in election campaigns and contest political elections. Then we will witness indiscipline, politics in the bureaucracy, bad work culture and more corruption in government offices. The ultimate sufferers will be the common man. I am shocked to note the four Ministers who instead of supporting and protecting the interests of the state are instead supporting those who want to bring down the authority of the state machinery. I suspect they are doing this for cheap politics. Such ministers do not deserve to remain in the chair.
Yours etc.,
Badondor L Nongrum,
Shillong-8
Flip-flop Govt decisions!
Editor,
The cabinet has unanimously agreed on the amendments to the Service Rules where Government employees are no longer allowed to hold office in the Dorbar Shnong and other public institutions. The four ministers who had an after-thought and shot off a letter to the Chief Minister asking him to reconsider this amendment must have been part of the Cabinet decision. Isn’t this what is called collective responsibility? Or is this a flight of fancy of only the Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma? If so, then does it mean that the CM is a dictator who does not entertain dissenting voices from his colleagues? I agree with HH Mohrmen in his article, ‘TIs are neither perfect nor sacrosanct’ (ST Feb 8, 2016) when he says that government employees are not the only ones blessed with wisdom to run the affairs of the Dorbar Shnong. This belittles all those others who are equally competent to engage in governance and public affairs. A Government employee as a Rangbah Shnong or as executive members of the Dorbar Shnong constitute a major conflict of interest because the Dorbar cannot be truly free to express its views and as Mohrmen says even the Dorbar Shnong turns into a replica of the Secretariat. The CM ought not to pass any resolution if he does not have the spine to stand by it.
Yours etc.,
Arnestwell Shadap,
Via email
Let’s take environment seriously!
Editor,
Shillong is in dire need of a vehicular emission testing center in view of its extremely poor air quality. Though there were reports of our transport minister visiting some Hi Tech facility in Haryana and trying to replicate the same here, in the meanwhile why can’t we have a simple Maruti van stationed at Barik like we used to many years ago. Another problem is Meghalaya vehicles entering Guwahati are invariably hauled up and fined at Khanapara for want of a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. Similarly trucks which are the biggest polluters should also be tested at weigh bridges. Environment conservation which at this point should be the highest priority for all governments seems to be pushed to the backburner in our State. They do this at their own peril, for in the future rhetorical issues like economic development, jobs etc. will be overtaken by our basic survivalist needs such as air, water and organic food. One should also keep in mind that industry based economic development will always be at the cost of clean air and water directly or indirectly. Haven’t we seen enough in the last hundred years? At what cost and for whose gain is all this?
Yours etc.
Gagan Jain,
Via emai
Kudos Physiotherapy Unit CHS
Editor,
In the last few months I have been availing of the services of the vibrant Physiotherapy Unit, Civil Hospital, Shillong and the sensitive treatment that I received has inspired me to write this. At the outset let me clearly point out that by writing this I do not mean to undermine the other departments in the same hospital with which I have had little experience. This Unit presently has eight Physiotherapists who are all women and a couple of support staff, who are constantly on their feet. This is not to imply that the other health care providers in the rest of the hospital are otherwise. Now, what impressed me most is the team work amongst them. For instance, a job, like Cervical Traction for a patient, that was started by one is quickly attended to by another when the need arises. I did not see the usual grudging attitude as is usually seen in government set ups. There is pleasantry, politeness and patience from each of them and this attitude is extended to every patient irrespective of class, creed or caste. Throughout my treatment there was not a day that I did not want to go there. Moreover, this small Unit is clean and ideally located near the Orthopaedics Department making it easily accessible by patients who have been referred for physiotherapy by the doctors. Finally, being a gender activist I cannot resist voicing out this thought: “I wonder if the sensitivity and all the other attributes that I mentioned above are because it is a Unit run by women”.
Yours etc.,
Darilyn Syiem,
Via emai
End of an era
Editor,
The highly respected cartoonist Sudhir Tailang is no more. His cartoons were not only highly enjoyable, but very thought-provoking as well. I vividly remember a cartoon, which he had created in July 2012, after the much-hyped discovery of the God particle. It was indeed the Kohinoor of all. The destitute, while searching for food in a garbage vat akin to dogs and rats, asks, “Did you find the God Particle? I’m very hungry brother”! The cartoon should act as an eye-opener for those who try to judge progress and modernity of society through scientific achievements only while the plight of the hungry millions is consigned to oblivion. That the destiny of the starved stomachs will not change a bit despite the much-hyped discovery of God Particle had been brilliantly illustrated by Tailang. Scientific research is good, but eradicating hunger and malnutrition from the society should remain our greatest concern. Through this letter let me salute the great humanitarian in Tailang. He might have physically left this mortal world, but Sudhir Tailang will continue to reside in the hearts of those who strive for equality for all.
Yours etc.,
Kajal Chatterjee,
Kolkata -114