Editor,
The lack of opportunities and absence of jobs pushes people to apply for jobs just for the sake of getting employed and not with an act of service or dedication or what we say is the call of the inner voice. Those working in the lower to middle level grades in government offices and in various sectors should learn from the corporate sector where promotions or increments are given on performance linked targets. If the state government wants to change the work culture and improve efficiency it should take a review of the service rules in various departments and have one uniform service rule where every performance should be graded or downgraded as per the employee’s performance. File pushing, passing the buck is the usual attitude in government offices. The UP Chief Minister had made drastic changes in a week’s time making everyone accountable unlike here where we have Ministers and bureaucrats don’t show any positive results. What kind of report card has this state to show? In fact it is very dismal in every sector and we can see that most legislators are already in election mode instead of concentrating on their departments. Are we heading towards becoming a failed state?
Yours etc..
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong:3
MeECL collapsing?
Editor,
Laban area has been experiencing indiscriminate power cuts without prior notice, that too at prime time and nearly every day for 2 to 4 hours. This is a curse and reminds me of how criminally inefficient the administration and political leadership is. The newspapers have only mentioned power cuts between 11 pm to 12:00 pm, which, though inconvenient was accepted because there’s no other alternative but to comply. However, the citizens of Laban had a horrific experience on May 25, when power was shut down from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. It indicates the sorry state of affairs and the visionless leadership that the state of Meghalaya is facing today. It also exposes how the State Electricity Corporation is functioning in a once power- surplus state and which still has enough of resources for power production. In a century when power can be derived from so many alternative sources it is a shame that we are living in such primitive conditions! And there is no public outcry!
That this is happening in the capital city which is a tourists hub is shameful! And this is not the first time. Every day, at some busy evening or afternoon our work comes to a screeching halt thanks to the power cut. A laid-back attitude towards everything is not what we can afford at this present moment when the world has advanced so much. These arbitrary power cuts receive only meek complaints from people because Shillong is still ( by God’s grace) a relatively cooler place. Given the same situation in any other city in the mainland, especially during summer months, the regulating authorities would have received some harsh treatment from the people. But Shillong being Shillong people never complain about anything. It’s time the MeECL realizes that power cuts at any time of the day and night reflects total lack of unprofessionalism.
Yours etc.,
- Bhattacharjee
Via email
Triple Talaq!
Editor,
It’s good that there is a debate going on over the validity of ‘Triple Talaaq’. However, the adamant attitude of the Centre to abolish it at any cost and the rigid attitude of All India Muslim Personal LawBoard (AlIMPLB) over its implementation does not augur well for a healthy democracy like India. Atbest we need to go for a rational and humanistic solution on this issue within the greater purviewof Fundamental rights to Religion under articles (25- 28) and the Directive Principles of State Policy ofour Constitution. Giving a communal colour to this vexed issue is the last thing that needs to happen, giventhe rich diversity and unity that our nation professes from millennia.
Yours etc.,
Sadiq Hussain Laskar,
Guwahati
Major Gogoi vindicated
Editor,
While the army has proved to be hardy and well-suited to save human lives in Kashmir valley, the separatists declined to support its actions. Braveheart Major Leetul Gogoi used his ready wit to come out from the horror of a war zone without firing a single bullet and thus saved many lives. It is a proud moment for us where an officer from the region has been commended by the Army Chief on the spot. Now the Govt of Kashmir orders an enquiry alleging Major Gogoi to be a war criminal. But the millions of Indians stand for the officer who comes out clean from the Army Court of Inquiry. And there are even elite Indians and self acclaimed human right activists who speak against the security forces at int ernational fora. These separatistsare cowards, who run away from the mainstream and instigate stone pelters to jeopardise the valley fortheir own interests. Will our political leaders also stop witch huntingagainst Army action. They are a threat to our nation. Strict action under the law should be enforced to deal with such unlawful activities against national interests. Anti nationals have no right to question the army whose men and officers have sacrificed their lives for the security of the nation.
Yours etc.,
Kamal Baruah,
Via email
Can minors be treated as adult criminals?
Editor,
The argument that a minor accused, charged with a crime that falls in the category of adult crime, should be tried in a way that would be similar to what an adult would have to deal with ~ does not hold water for two reasons. First, those who are under 18 do not have the right to vote and the right to marry as they are not considered as adults. Then how can you treat those children as adults when it comes to crime? Second, we cannot put the cart before the horse. Violence has become a marketable commodity which victimizes impressionable minds. So, you cannot stop the fire without disconnecting the petrol route. We should censor violence in electronic games, in games like WWF, on TV, Internet and films where even eve – teasing is being promoted as courtship!
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Dress, culture and peer pressure
Editor,
Dress and dressing is an important socio-cultural practice cutting across the boundaries of nations in all the human inhabited continents. However, dresses are not just restricted to regional cultures and ethnicity in this millennium; but also to official requirements and big multinational corporate culture, fashion statement,different styles, global, local and regional brand names, weather and season based need, economy and personal choice. Hence, a specific dress appropriate for one culture, country or soci ety may or may not be acceptable or appreciated in another culture, country or a different society. However, advocating for global human rights, one should have the freedom to choose his/her clothes and dress of choice without any restriction; unless there is a specific reason for its acceptability, security or moral and/or cultural issues associated with it. Different
ethnicities and societies have different views regarding appropriate dressing and that needs to be respected too and cannot be disregarded in terms of rights only. Furthermore, societies across the planet are now unjustly driven by peer pressure and gorgeous advertisements on various media outlets. Hence we often dress falling to that pressure to fit in better with our peers and this cannot be underestimated too.
Yours etc.,
Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge AB
Canada T1J 4B