Editor,
In his article, “Culture therapy” (ST, March 3, 2017), Ananya S Guha has rightly said, “Beating up college teachers as in the bizarre incident in Ram Jaas College, is once again a proof of how dissent and liberty of expression are being viciously suppressed in the country.” As a matter of fact, dissent, debate and dialogue are central to democracy. On the other hand, democracy is the lifeblood of our Constitution and nation. So, those intolerant forces that are hell bent on gagging the voice of democracy are actually anti-national forces masquerading as nationalists. They should be tried in accordance with our Constitution.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,Kolkata
Eat healthy, stay healthy
Editor,
This refers to your editorial “Health Check-up” (ST- March 3,2017). One should keep a check on lifestyle disorders by modifying food habits, making exercise a part of life, reducing the intake of junk food and adopting relaxation techniques to keep stress at bay. It is unfortunate that the youths in particular are falling prey to alcoholism and tobacco abuse. There is need to organise awareness programmes at educational Institutions on the evils of consumption of alcohol and tobacco. We need to rethink our daily lives — to eat healthily, be physically active and avoid excessive weight gain. Safety in food is also a result of the integrity and strictness of those who impose the rules. Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body either does not make enough insulin to break down the sugar in foods or uses insulin inefficiently. It can cause early death or serious complications like blindness, stroke, kidney disease, amputation and heart disease. Prevention is better than cure. Eat healthy; stay healthy should be the mantra.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad- 15
Delay in issuance of ST certificates
Editor,
In today’s technologically developed world Government department has adopted e-governance to ease the physical work load. However, at times this has created problems for the poor and for students with dreams and the general people at large who urgently require important documents and have to apply for them online. Trying to obtain a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate from the District Administration of the East Khasi Hills District has become a humungous problem for the indigenous people of our State after the closure of the offline facility for application in the DC’s office. The online application procedure has created a lot of problems and delays in issuing such certificates to bona-fide applicants who are genuine tribals as recognized by the Constitution of India and duly notified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and by the State Government of Meghalaya. Also since the introduction of the online system, the public at large are suffering, especially the students and other aspirants who wish to apply for admission to college, school, special education, etc. and who urgently require the ST certificate. Often the delay in getting the ST certificate has shattered their dreams and prevented them from becoming what they want to be. It is ironic that there could be something called a e-delay since we are now so technologically advanced. It seems the District Administration does not comply with what has been enshrined in the Constitution and still decides who to give and who not to give the ST certificate to? A bona-fide citizen of India by birth belonging to a tribal community is entitled to get an ST certificate from the concerned District Administration without delay or e-delay . Hence issuance of ST certificates should be expedited to ease the problem of indigenous people and to uplift them as per the articles enshrined in the Constitution. Failure to comply with the law of the land is a violation of the Constitutional rights of each and every individual/indigenous person of India. The District Administration pledges to serve the public at large hence they should fulfill their obligations as pledged.
Yours etc.
Name withheld on request
Public road; private activities
Editor,
Apropos the letter captioned, “Building materials on public roads,” (ST Feb 06, 2017) by L R Lyngdoh, I endorse that there are shameless people who are in the habit of throwing garbage and also building materials being dumped on the road and telling the Municipal workers to remove the same. These people even dare to use the PWD road for mixing cement etc. for the construction of their multi- storied buildings. Last year, the drain at Rilbong behind the Kench’s Trace Police Beat House has been repaired but the waste construction materials are left on the road side till date despite the fact that work was carried out by none other than the Rangbah Dong of Rilbong! What a pity! The Rangbah Dong proudly declared that the contract work was awarded by the local MLA @ Rs 10 lakhs. It is also observed that the powerful MLA has done similar works at Howell Road, Laban, by converting the erstwhile parking lot at Iewdak, Batti Bazar into a private property with tile flooring and complete concrete wall around it. You just cannot question this high and mighty MLA who can bulldoze the corridors of power at his wish. In this respect, the less said the better.
Yours etc.
D D Nongrum
Shillong- 4