Editor,
Apropos your thought – provoking and eye-opening article, “Why good men should protest Rape” by Deepa Majumdar (ST March 30, 2016), one finds the scenario for women very grim indeed. This will continue so long as the basic social and economic structures remain unchanged and the implementing and law and order agencies show indifference. It is obvious that there is much to be done to change our laws on rape. While Sections 375 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code are the major laws dealing with rape, they have failed to match the international standards of addressing the crime. Making tougher laws will only be as effective as their implementation. Violent assaults, rapes and murders of women are symptomatic of a deep societal dysfunction. Any new law on rape should include the conduct of the defence lawyer and bar unethical questions against the rape victim. If an FIR is registered against a person in a rape case, he should be automatically disqualified from contesting elections. The prosecution for rape and sexual harassment should have toughest lawyers pleading the case to have 100% conviction and not one in over 1000 cases. Before the dignity of more women is sacrificed, we need to have a real change for a better democracy, greater freedom, full transparency, strict law enforcement, and mandatory punishment for heinous crimes against women.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C Dixit,
Via email
Poor debate on Budget speech
Editor,
Observing the discussions on the Budget speech that took place on March 18, 2016, I am pained to see the poor quality of our MLAs who instead of raising issues of importance to the state and make pointed comments on the Budget speech of the CM, spoke instead about petty political issues pertaining to their own constituencies. For eg Titos Chyne’s demand for a PWD subdivision at Laitlyngkot, upgrading Sohra as a District etc., could have been taken up in other forum without wasting the precious time of the Assembly, especially that of government officials who had to spend a lot of time to attend the Assembly session leaving behind other important development related activities and public services, which in turn affects the general public. Amongst those who participated in the debate, only Paul Lyngdoh and Jemino Mawthoh spoke sense and made points that are relevant to the budget speech. All the speakers with one voice supported the hiking of MLA scheme from Rs one crore to Rs two crores, which exposes the self- centred and narrow mindset of our MLAs.
Yours etc.,
Rijied Kurkalang,
Shillong-2
Of favouritism and preelection ploy!
Editor,
Thumbs up Paul Lyngdoh! You have raised a very pertinent question in the Assembly about the appointment of the kith and kin of senior officers in different departments. Dwelling on this issue Mr Lyngdoh should have also brought out the corruption rampant in selection of State Civil Service officers and Meghalaya Police officers where their own fathers and uncles were the Chairperson and/or member of the MPSC. The most notorious practice of other Departments like Social Welfare is that the same officer is also Director, DIPR which rampantly appoints underqualified staff and officers in various subordinate offices. Such unrestrained and unmindful behavior of the Director could lead to a new upheaval amongst the unemployed youth. Of late, the Director of DIPR, has appointed staff and officers by flouting the rules which he, as an IAS officer is supposed to uphold at any cost. I was informed by many that the officer allegedly distributes blankets, heaters, rice, dal, umbrella to the potential voters of Mawsynram Constituency and intensive tours were conducted by him to various areas with great promises to the people. Surprisingly, distributing of money is also allegedly taking place in the office of the Directorate of Social Welfare which is a stone’s throw away from the Secretariat and the office of the Director General of Police. Are people conniving with him?
Yours etc.,
K. Kharbangar,
Shillong-4