Editor,
We would like to lay a few facts regarding the mismanagement of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Secretariat. Firstly, Ms Y Lamare (Retired P.S to Speaker) was holding the charge of the Office of Superintendent MLA Hostel for the last 5 (five) years though she was promoted to the post of Committee Officer and then to the post of Private Secretary to Speaker.
Second, within that period three to four officers were promoted to the post of Superintendent MLA Hostel, but Ms Lamare would not hand over charge to them to discharge their duties, merely because she was has connections with the higher authorities in the Secretariat.
Thirdly, it is learnt that though she had retired in July, 2016 she has still not handed over the MLA Hostel Files & Office keys to the present Superintendent.
We are constrained to bring these irregularities into the public domain as they amount to corruption and malfeasance and the same practice should not happen in the future.
Yours etc.,
Concerned staff of Meghalaya Assembly Secretariat
Laptop for toppers
Editor,
I recall that the State Government through the IT Department encouraged the meritorious students by giving them laptop computers. This is a real booster to their performance. However, this innovative idea is now in a cold storage. I would therefore request the Department to continue this scheme which is a morale booster. Other schemes may perhaps be curtailed so that this scheme continues for the benefit of the students and the State in the long run.
Yours etc.,
A concerned student
North-East India in 2017!
Editor
The year 2017 certainly will have special significance for India’s much neglected North-East. Decades of rule by the corruption ridden Indian National Congress, in most states, have made them economically backward with very little infrastructural development as well as employment opportunities for the local people. The recent assessment by the United States of America suggests huge economic potential for the region. More importantly, one could see big changes in the political equations in the region. Decades of Congress rule is being replaced by NDA/BJP rule in the region. Although the approach of the NDA government has not been above criticism for bending the rules of democracy in Arunachal Pradesh, nonetheless, we can see strong footprints of the lotus blooming across the North-Eastern states. With two big states of the region, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in their kitty and with visible strong political alliances with local parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya; NDA/BJP is making its presence felt across the North-East by slowly replacing Congress and other local parties.
The North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) between BJP and local political parties like Naga People’s Front (NPF), Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has further strengthened the base of BJP/NDA in several states like Sikkim where they have little or no foothold. Tripura under the Left Front rule; Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram under the Congress are the only four states left in the region outside the BJP/NDA influence. However, Trinamool Congress (TMC) has successfully replaced Congress as the main opposition in Tripura; leaving Manipur Meghalaya and Mizoram as the only Congress ruled states in the region.
The current situation in Manipur is extremely fragile and the creation of seven districts by Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has been done keeping the Assembly elections in mind. He knows full well that it would result in mass uprising among the Naga communities of the state, but to keep his Meitei vote bank intact he does not care to dangerously rekindle ethnic wars. Otherwise, he has very little chance of getting back the coveted CM seat. However, the situation has gone beyond his ability to handle any further and without direct Central Government intervention there is no possibility of any quick resolution.
Hence, North-East India is now under strong control and coordination of the BJP/NDA political alliance. If they are successful in continuing their pro-developmental agenda as in other parts of India, they can bring forth welcome political change. However, the volatile political situation in most states of the region (except Sikkim), ethnic rivalries, corrupt local politicians constantly changing allegiance for personal gains and benefits, high levels of corruption, lack of proper governance, insurgency, poor infrastructure and low economic growth will be the major challenges plaguing the speedy economic development of the region. If NDA/BJP could at least credibly handle 40-50% of the serious socio-economic and socio-political problems of the North-East they will be able to establish themselves in the region successfully. It is better for the region to see at least some success than zero success from past governments. Only the coming days will demonstrate how the region changes socio-politically, but that there is change in the air is almost certain. Hope something better results for the picturesque and ethnically diverse, but severely isolated and neglected North-East India and hope for peace and economic prosperity in the region.
Yours etc.,
Saikat Kumar Basu,
Lethbridge, AB Canada