Editor,
Shillongites love to romanticize about the newly opened Cafes ( with sky rocketing prices) and shops, new dresses in the market, cool weather, good rock and metal music and various other events. This is all good; one should be proud of one’s own but reluctantly we don’t dare to talk about the issues that directly or indirectly affect ourselves. Moreover, we would brag about Shillong being ‘the Rock Capital of India’, ‘Tourist destination’, ‘Scotland of the East’ ‘Hub of Education’ but this doesn’t add to a Shillong that promotes a society which is inclusive unless we change our mindsets. Wretchedly we (pre) tend to be satisfied with the status quo. We are being blindfolded by the emotions and glamour that come our way. We have become so apathetic of what is going on around us. The sad part is that when a rape case occurs, or anybody dies because of accident, the question we would first ask is whether that victim is a local or non local and if he/she’s not a Khasi Pnar ( non local- the Dkhars) we would say Oh! that’s none of our business; let them die/suffer. It is very unfortunate that such chauvinistic mindsets have corrupted our thinking without realizing how dangerous this jingoism is and how it will make us a society that endorses a fascist ideology. I think while loving one’s own we should not hate and talk ill will against others. I think the ‘touch-bearers’ of the ‘Jaitbynriew’ did not teach us such hatred. To me, humanity comes first and the perpetrators should be punished whatever community they belongs to or whatever position they are holding. In such a ‘Cool’ hill station racism, patriarchy, communal hatred still exists and this is not something to be proud of. We (don’t ) realize that there are so many irregularities in most of the educational institutions be it privately owned or those run by the Government. I think we are not ready to speak out because we like to engage with this pathetic system.
I reiterate. Can we be more inclusive at least in terms of anger and outrage against crime of any form? When will we realize that we also have a voice and rights enshrined in the Constitution? Through this letter may I also ask the different authorities what are the action plans in terms of rejuvenating Iewduh? I don’t want to see it as another political gimmick in the Chief Minister’s visit last year with the grand welcome he was given because at that time we thought he is the ‘Deliverer’ who can do something to remove the chaotic conditions of this traditional market. Shillongites let us be a model for a progressive society that is concerned not only with our own well-being but the well being of everyone. Let us introspect because things happening around us are not just present problems which will disappear soon. Rather they are threats that will consume our future. Let us open our ears and eyes to the many issues and outrage against an irresponsible establishment. We need to open up our eyes to look beyond this ‘glorified City’.
Yours etc…
Banshanlang Marwein
Mairang
Flip side of NEET
Editor,
Since the last two years, it has become mandatory for students who opt to pursue MBBS/Dental Course to first pass class XII/HSSLC or such equivalent standards with concerned subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Bio technology and English. Further, candidates must secure 50% aggregate marks in these subjects. For SC and ST candidates, though, the same is scaled down to 40% benchmark to be eligible to appear for the single entrance exam christened as National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance-Test (NEET). Thereafter successful candidates can enroll themselves as Medical students in various selected Medical Colleges of India.
Thus with the inception of NEET, our time-tested State Reservation policy in Medical studies which invariably accorded space to the exceptionally qualified students in terms of marks secured in Class XII is now decidedly dispensed with, inferring that the notching up of 80% or even 90% in such exams would not be of any good given that students securing high marks also must compete in the NEET along with less brilliant students who somehow manage to score a mere 50% or even less. Interestingly, in such tests, promising and prospective students for whatever reason may not fare well and conversely, average students may be fortunate enough to get through the NEET and are thereby selected!
Taking our state of Meghalaya as a case in point, it is indicated that since the inception of NEET, the entry into Medical course from amongst our indigenous students has gone down drastically, whereas that of the other advanced communities has gone up substantially. Admittedly, India is in crying need of quality and knowledgeable physicians, which is why the Government has rightly introduced a fair and competitive level playing field through NEET to determine the cognitive ability of aspiring students on subjects contextualized with the science of Medical sciences for the holistic improvement and over-all progress in health sector. On the flip side, however NEET could as well undercut the Medical study of our 3(three) principal tribes of Meghalaya, who in the absence of the erstwhile state’s reservation quota in Medical stream stand little chance of competing with advanced sections of their counterparts in NEET. Little wonder that in course of time our State might be manned by medical practitioners in different health care Centres/Hospitals, parachuted from outside the state following the vacuum of indigenous ones, thus turning Meghalaya into a veritable ground of influx of medical professionals in a noble way.
Hence, in view of such grim anticipation, our state Government ought to see the writing on the wall and to pre-empt this irrevocable caveat, the latter should evolve result oriented devices on how to face head on this problematic social issue whereby our meritorious tribal students are not denied medical and vocational seats. In short our state government must convince the powers that be that special quota be earmarked for our tribal students or, still better, to objectively consider taking 50 % of total marks secured at the last Board level exam and 50 % of marks achieved at NEET respectively for over-all medical study qualifications. This will go a long way to address the grievances of deserving students and their aggrieved parents. Reportedly the next NEET exam is slated for May 7th.
However, if such thoughts are not given due weightage I’m afraid to visualize the ultimate fate of our indigenous students who may face the same on-going unsavoury experience of lakhs of small traders of India who shall be gradually wiped out from their business in the wake of PM Modi’s demonetization of high value currency notes and his attempt to turn Indian into a complete cashless economy!
Your etc,
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Shillong-2