Editor,
Nature is a wonderful gift and we are mesmerised by the beauty of the mountains and plains of Meghalaya. In the olden days Shillong city was full of trees and plants that sustained our catchment areas but now trees are being cut down daily due to selfish motives and human greed. But an old tree of two or three decades in the corner of Raj Bhavan compound, and few others standing tall on the Shillong-Jowai road as we walk towards St. Edmunds which should legitimately be brought down because they could be a menace to us are allowed to stand until a tragic incident took away three precious lives in just a few seconds. The debris took at least seven hours to clean up and the work around that place continues.
The question to ask is, who is responsible for this needless loss of human lives? Today the regret shown by people in authority is just a shedding of crocodile tears, because this incident clearly points to the failures of those who lead our state. They failed to have a proper city plan, and management of human resources in the concerned departments to meet the real needs of the common people by way of safe buildings, roads, bridges, etc. The road conditions in our state whether in the town or villages is pathetic. Legislators are elected to see the real needs of the people but they have utterly failed in this. Much of their time is wasted in fighting for the wrong motives, mainly to hold on to their chairs and position so they can serve themselves better.
The 2018 election is at hand and politicians will let loose their propaganda machine to mislead people with many false promises and with wrong motives. My humble appeal is for the common people of our state to start being dynamic and dare to use right channels to address the media and use your right to choose those who have the right sense of leading our state and also have real passion to serve our Jaitbynriew and the people of the state. This accident is only a foreshadow of other failures and mistakes that will be coming into the limelight in the days to come. We should remember that each life is precious and we must remind ourselves that prevention is better than cure and that there should not be any neglect of responsibilities in the near future which could cost the loss of innocent lives.
Yours etc.,
Evarist Myrsing
NongrimNongladaw (Mawbri)
Heights of intolerance!
Editor,
The recent incident at Mylliem has shaken our faith in the idea of secularism. As an Indian citizen, I am saddened that we have failed to adhere to the tenets of the Constitution. Our citizenship is to a country that is not only democratic but also secular and this is enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution of India which says – every citizen has the right [to] freely profess, practise and propagate religion. Therefore every rightful citizen of the country is entitled to follow any faith/religion that he/she chooses. As a believer of ka Niam Khasi Niamtre, I am hurt and dejected over the tragic turn of affairs in Mylliem on August 11, August 2017. As per newspaper reports (both English and vernacular), apparently the protest was triggered by the failure on the part of the practitioners of Ka Seng Khasi to abide by the agreement signed with the village authorities. However, the veracity of the matter needs to be thoroughly examined and investigated.
Even if there was a violation and the place of cremation was a conflict point, but on humanitarian grounds the villagers could have shown some sensitivity and civility. The last rites of the deceased could have been allowed as an act of humanity. Alas! This did not happen and as reported by the media, it was because the believers of Ka Niam Tynrai had violated some agreement they had with the shnong. Logically, if there was an agreement then that should not be violated. But to err is human and to forgive divine. Are we all not creations of God who rules over the earth and its creations before we discriminate on the basis of our faiths, beliefs, class, caste, creed and colour? Just as the sloganeering by the people of Mylliem highlighted the breach of conduct it also displayed their lack of conscience, their intolerance and respect for the dead which is a Khasi-Pnar virtue. If only the last rites of the deceased had been allowed to be fulfilled without the violent uproar and the matter was dealt with later more stringently in a proper platform! The thought that crossed my mind when I first saw the video on social media was not whether I was a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi or Niam /Tynrai Niamtre but the horrific truth that we humans have stooped down to this level of inhumanity that we no longer respect the dead. It appear that we now have to fear fellow human beings and that too of the same ethnic group! I wonder what will become of us in the days to come if we have forgotten the basic tenets of our existence here on earth!
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Cut the rape tape in relief measures!
Editor,
During last few days owing to heavy monsoon rainfall many areas in the state experienced heavy landslides, floods, house collapse, tree falling on houses, on vehicles and even on human beings which led to loss of human lives and properties. Many roads were blocked for vehicular traffic. These types of occurrences take place every time during heavy monsoon rainfall accompanied by strong winds. It is very sad to mention here that, the government in the districts concerned are ill-equipped and extraordinarily slow to act to rescue those in dire need. Even the relief disbursed to them in advance by the state are not utilized or are mis-utilised left and right, not for the victims but for their self aggrandizement in the name of distributing relief materials. Many victims of natural calamities are left unattended and no relief is given to them even after many years because of the sluggishness and irresponsibility of government employees who are supposed to look after this aspect.
I suggest that the districts have a special task force specially trained to handle this in an expeditious manner, by distributing relief materials promptly, to mitigate the sufferings of the victims. Farmers are the worst hit by such natural calamities because their crops are at the mercy of nature. Those who are assigned to assess the loss of crops are not prompt and are not trained and ill-equipped to do their job. Further, the Relief and Rehabilitation Department is too slow to act due to entrenched red-tape and the old style of functioning which is obsolete in the present era. Hence many farmers and cultivators, especially small and marginal farmers, are not attended to or cared for by the assessors. They are left alone to fend for themselves.
The other aspect that I would like to suggest is that all the matured, old trees along the roadside which are within falling distance on the road ought to be immediately cut (felled) to prevent further disasters and loss of lives and property.
Yours etc
Philip Marwein,
Via email