Editor,
The lead stories appearing in your paper (ST May 20 & 23, 2017) of the conviction and jail terms of some bureaucrats in connection with the coal scam must have sent shock waves among serving bureaucrats across the countr4y. This will deter serving bureaucrats from indulging in corrupt practices. We hope this will send strong signals to many who are still serving in government in various capacities. However, we do not know whether the CBI court has found conclusive evidence and proof of corruption beyond doubts against the officers. Further, we also are not aware if the big sharks and the real beneficiaries of the coal scam are being steadfastly pursued by the courts to ensure their conviction and punishment.
The fact is that bureaucrats have full knowledge of government transactions which are highly sensitive and tempting as well. Through them lakhs of crores of rupees are transacted through note sheets, files and hard cash. The temptation is too strong to resist. Many of these officers connive with their bosses on how to share the booty. However, we also cannot deny that there are bureaucrats who can and have resisted corruption and are known for their integrity and sincerity. But there are also officers who appear sincere and diligent but who have abused the system for their personal gains. We only have to check out their personal assets and the fact that a few of them intend to fight the 2018 elections, to know that all is not well in the bureaucracy! That said, the position of bureaucrats is neither glamorous nor enviable. They are sandwiched between their political bosses, their cronies or agents and the business tycoons. They are not to reason why, but just have to carry out their masters’ wishes.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marweiñ,
Shillong-2
EVM Challenge
Editor,
The Election Commission of India (ECI) held a meeting on May 12 with all political parties of the country on the issue of tampering of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in New Delhi. Barring 3-4 parties all participants in the meeting had favoured continued use of EVMs along with 100% paper trail. An ECI officer made a detailed presentation on EVM security features in the meeting. Chief Election Commissioner, Nasim Zaidi ruled out a return to the ballot paper system! Zaidi insisted that with VVPATs to be deployed in all future polls, the controversy over reliability of the election process should be finally set to rest.
Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Dr M S Gill introduced EVMs successfully in the electoral process of the country during his tenure as the Chief Election Commissioner of India from 1996 to 2001.Introduction of EVMs being his major achievement which curbed malpractices to a large extent. Starting with Australia, many developed countries around the world are also using EVMs without controversy. International and Indian IT experts have already confirmed that technologically Indian EVMs are the best in the world and can neither be corrupted nor tampered in any way, since the replacement of the internal circuit is not possible. The Indian EVMs have also strong technological features and are tamper-proof. Being a technocrat-bureaucrat turned politician it is inexplicable as to how the CM of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal is advocating for a retrograde step of re-introducing the “paper ballot system” of voting in this era of hi-tech innovations. The Chief Election Commissioner of India and his team deserve accolades for taking up the challenge of the vanquished political parties in the last general elections in UP and some other states by inviting each political party for a period of 4 hours to demonstrate that the EVMs can neither be tampered with nor hacked on June 3, 2017.
Yours etc.,
Samares Bandyopadhyay
Advocate, Kolkata High Court
NEIGRIHMS neglecting senior citizens!
Editor,
It is very disheartening that NEIGRIHMS, the premier public health care centre of the North East at Mawdiangdiang, Shillong, has of late stopped the issuance of blue coloured outpatient cards to senior citizens, thereby implying that the aged and the infirm are to stand in long queues to get themselves registered preceding medical consultation, thus undergoing immense physical mortification! Further, it is also learnt, that even the working staff of this Institute have since been discontinued and given the pink-coloured out-patient card for reasons best known to this hospital management. Henceforth, all patients, irrespective of age, status etc are furnished a piece of printed white paper which may easily get misplaced or crumbled unlike the previous cards containing several pages where the entire medical case history could be evaluated carefully. Thus, NEIGRIHMS has evidently reneged on its commitment to serve the senior citizens and its employees.
Yours etc
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Shillong 2
Heinous & unpardonable acts!
Editor,
The news item, “Minor molested by father-son duo” (ST May, 2017) is not only disgusting but hair-raising as well. Rapes and molestations are so rampant that not a day passes without such disturbing news being revealed through newspapers, television and other social media. It is already a sad state of affairs that conviction and punishment for perpetrators of such crimes are not only rare but absent. Now what is even more alarming is the despicable truth as demonstrated through the heinous act of the father –son, that we parents and elders are forgetting our roles and responsibilities. Parents are meant to be the best guides to their children but this case shows the decline of humankind. What we say, what we do and how we live has a lot of impact on our children. Today, with unlimited exposure to various possibilities especially through the internet it is imperative for parents to monitor the movements of their children and to raise them well. This incident is an eye opener for people at large and parents in particular. As a parent, I’m ashamed and humiliated over the way the innocence and morality of the poor child has been devoured by none other than her father and brother. Family and the home are safe havens for any individual. These are two pillars that support and strengthen individuals. When the two become unsafe and are a threat, then life itself becomes meaningless. Can we afford to simply read this piece of news as just another news item in the papers and thank God that it is not happening in our hearth and homes? I hope not and I hope we as a society take responsibility to see that such acts are not repeated.
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email