Editor,
The world over tribal culture is synonymous with truth and honesty and yet we have amidst our community people willing to barter their names for filthy lucre. It is time that our dorbar shnong, seng bhalang and our churches counsel our people on the evils of such activities. When we resort to selling of names we must realise that in the process we are teaching our children that it is perfectly fine to cheat. (Ngi tip ba ngi dei ka jait bynriew ‘Tip briew tip blei’ bad kaba ‘Kamai ia ka hok’ te balei kein mynta pat?) …. Introspect please.
As a case in point I can cite the rampant illegal transactions at MUDA shopping complex at Khyndailad. Here one can see garment shops, mobile shops, watch shops, barber shops, spectacle shops, teer shops, computer shops, book shops, bag shops, shoe shops., etc., involved in benami business all the year round while hundreds of our tribal boys and girls are hunting for places to do an honest days’ work. It is noticed that some stalls have even been sold/ sublet many times over and with every change of hands the allotees make a quick buck and new businesses emerge in those stalls. The few tribal and non tribal stall owners who are doing genuine business are aware of the large scale benami businesses going on here and also are aware of all the Stall Numbers indulging in benami businesses but choose to remain silent as they have been reduced to a minority and are loath to complain as they genuinely doubt MUDA’s sincerity and ability to weed out the benami perpetrators.
MUDA’s apathy to act is allowing the benami stall holders to carry on their activities with impunity. Some benami traders have even rented out counters to third parties inside the stalls. In connivance with the tribal stall holders the benami dealers have armed themselves with documents proclaiming their status as partners, managers etc. Invariably one will find that all the so-called managers are non-tribals. Do we smell something fishy in that? Also it is hilarious to note that while the big showrooms in the rest of Police Bazar are self managed by the owners themselves, the small pigeon-hole stalls of MUDA shopping Complex are being run by non-tribal managers appointed by the Tribal allotees. Real highfliers these tribal allotees but who is bluffing whom!
It goes without saying that the MUDA authorities have not seriously attempted to identify the allotees who have either sold their stalls to non tribals and/ or are indulging in promoting benami transactions. By corollary MUDA is in itself involved in promoting benami business. MUDA has to take foolproof steps to weed out this rot. MUDA can effectively take the help of the High Court to direct the CBI to identify the erring allotees and resume the stalls for allotment to more deserving and needy local tribals wanting to eke out some honest earnings. As already stated the stall numbers sold/sublet is an open secret and, notwithstanding the dangers of whistle blowing, one can produce the list of offenders’ to this paper for future publication in public interest and for redressal but that would be denying the MUDA authorities from doing their own job. Also before things come to such a pass I would request the tribal stallholders who have sublet/leased/sold their stalls to please self operate their stalls or hand them back to the MUDA authorities for re-allotment. On their part MUDA also must issue such directions to the allotees practicing/promoting benami businesses. Eradication of Benami Businesses/ Transactions is now a matter of policy of the Government of India and MUDA’s long standing apathy towards it is only raising eyebrows and fermenting speculations.
It was heartening to hear the present youthful and dynamic Urban and Municipal Affairs minister proclaiming to clean Shillong. The citizens of Shillong would like to see him clean up the dirty benami businesses from his headquarters at MUDA situated at Khyndailad which is the HEART of Shillong. Mr. Minister, if we fail to act now the MUDA Market at Khyndailad is guaranteed to go the IEWDUH way.
Yours Etc.,
Jonathan Lyngdoh,
Shillong -3