Editor,
To someone coming from Delhi, Shillong is nature’s bounty! Greenery in abundance, sparrows and other birds, variety of flowers and butterflies enliven the little child even in a grown up. I was beauty struck! The small quaint looking cottages, winding lanes and clean lakes look very inviting to a wearied and fatigued denizen from the capital. It is indeed another world.
The scenes changed when I visited the outskirts of Shillong. On my way to Chherapunji and Moylningnnong village and back to Shillong, the images that hovered around me were those of mountains after mountains disrobed. It reminded me of impoverished men and women standing with open palms amidst opulent surroundings of Delhi. Was it not hypocritical of me to be using the cemented road on the one hand and lamenting for the ravaged hills on the other? With our numbers constantly rising, it seems our needs are outpacing our capacities. Drinking water, electricity and then other civic amenities like sewerage, roads, and bazaars-all are under tremendous stress. But what is most bizarre is human greed.
We must define our urban necessities which we cannot do without. The rest is greed-if we do not distinguish between the two now, our existence will be in peril. However, the builder mafia seems to be catching up here too- like elsewhere-constructing ultra-modern concrete structures with glass exteriors reminding you of unimaginative, ugly cosmopolitan cement jungles. Go to Police Bazaar and see for yourself, the new high brand clothes’ store taking up more space than the neighboring modest looking stores, to give you one example of what I mean.
I wonder, after how much more devastation, will we wake up to preserving our heritage, our local architecture and pride in being different. We cannot let Shillong lose its natural charm and purity. It is time we raise our voices against devastating developments.
Yours etc.,
Vidushi Chaturvedi,
New Delhi
Uncouth NEIGRIHMS staff
Editor,
While most of the service rendered by NEIGRIHMS are highly commendable, some inadequacies must be addressed. In a recent experience, the wait seemed endless in the cardiology department, so my ailing 83-year old grandfather, my husband and I decided to return home. When we asked for the patient’s card to be returned, we were made to run from one staff to another since none seemed to know where it was. I later confronted the staff not to make us run about but to immediately hand over the card and allow us to leave. The staff thought that I was fussing over the wait and I was then told that I was in a government hospital and that I should wait or go to a private hospital. Now waiting in medical centers is a known fact and the public do comply. But one need not be intimidated by being told to go to a private hospital. This reaction and uncouth behaviour is unbecoming of a government employee especially in one who works in the medical field which demands a high degree of professionalism. People can be impatient for different reasons; mine being that my grandfather had not eaten since morning till then (12:00 A.M.) because of a test.
If NEIGRIHMS has a complaint cell, I did not see one. I also wonder why the staff there do not wear name tags which would help the public identify them in such grievances. It is hoped that the administrators look into these issues because the good reputation of NEIGRIHMS would indeed be ruined because of such uncouth staff.
Yours etc.,
Mebaaihun Blah,
Via email
BSF not needed in Pyndengrei
Editor,
I was surprised to learn from the media that the Border Security Force (BSF) is setting up a camp at Pyndengrei, Nongstoin near the bypass on NH 44 (E) (ST June 25, 2016). As one who hails from that region and with a fair knowledge about the place, I see no point in setting up such a camp in that area. I agree with the KSU, West Khasi Hills district who protested to the DC on the matter, especially with the KSU President who argued that Nongstoin is a place where only minor crimes occur and these crimes can be easily handled by the state police. So why do we need such a major camp of armed forces in the area? We are living in a Christian-majority state and we are familiar with the sayings of Jesus, ‘People who are well do not need a doctor.’ The big question here is, why should the (BSF) which is supposed to guard and protect the borders of the country, set up a camp in a place which does not have an international border? In fact we need more BSF camps in the border areas where there are major problems of infiltration and where people live in insecurity because of underground outfits /terrorists who come and go across the international border without any hindrance. In such a situation where is the BSF? I request the BSF officials to respect public opinion and set up their camps where there is a high demand for peace and security.
Yours etc.,
Aiborlang Nongsiej
Savio Juniorate
Shillong