Editor,
Through your esteemed daily, I would like to bring to the notice of the readers the unscrupulous ways adopted by some of the so-called “lecturers” of higher education in our city to obtain jobs in some of our reputed colleges. In a one such renowned college a lecturer in the Computer Science Dept has “obtained” an M.Phil in Computer through correspondence course from Periyar University and was subsequently confirmed in a Government sanctioned post and is enjoying the benefits of a government salary. What is astonishing is that neither the College nor the Education Department bothered to verify the validity of the degree before sanctioning their approval, whereas clause 5 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for award of MPhil/Ph.D Degrees) Regulation 2009, clearly states that no University will conduct MPhil / Ph.D. programmes through distance education mode. Hence, that person’s degree is not valid.
Another lecturer of Computer Science Dept in the same college has an MSc in Computer Sc through distance education through a study centre in Shillong and is enjoying a substantial salary. However, the UGC guidelines allow operation of a University only within the territorial jurisdiction, and in no case beyond the territory of the State where the varsity is located. So in this case also the College administration has faltered by confirming the services without verifying the credentials. So why is the College showing such leniency towards these employees? Are the qualifications of other youths less legitimate that they are not being given this opportunity to serve our students? Definitely there is something more than meets the eye.
I appeal to the Education Department, the affiliating university, NEHU and to our students’ unions to substantiate the facts mentioned herewith and to right the wrong that has been going on for so many years.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Absurdity has its limits!
Editor,
A person going by the name of Rasputin Bismarck whose letters have earlier appeared in your daily on issues relating to Christianity has now gone overboard by suggesting that cremation is unscientific and polluting. Just because Christians bury their dead does not mean that all should follow that route. In a country like India religion is best left to the private domain. To my mind an electric crematorium is the cleanest way to dispose of a dead body. In a country with such a large population how can there be burial space enough for every person? This is a point to ponder. Also there are ways of expressing an opinion without being abrasive. Rasputin Bismarck who, going by his address, is a resident of Kolkata seems to have lost his bearings completely. An intrinsic part of the Khasi culture is to respect the dead and to say that our society is overly sentimental about the dead is a disrespect to our culture.
It is true that there is a lot of absenteeism on account of funeral services et al and that it is only those employed with government who can afford to avail such leave. It is also true that those employed in private agencies cannot afford to take a week-long leave even when a bereavement happens in their own family. But we have to evolve with time. Society cannot be pushed into sudden change. We are all slowly adapting because there is no choice. Even within the government, today many employees are employed on contract basis with stringent rules and regulations. The days of easy casual leave might soon be over if governments begin to tighten the belt. So one way or the other we have to move with the times.
My advice to the likes of Bismarck is to stop quoting the Bible. It does not behove a great and secular country like India to be dictated by any religious faith.
Yours etc.,
MN Nongrum,
Via email
NEIGRIHMS’ reversion of practice
Editor,
On my last visit to NEIGRIHMS in May, this year, I was extremely agitated by the fact that the Institution had done away with the issuance of bluecolured outpatient cards to the senior citizens as was practised in the past. Being aggrieved at what I felt was disrespect meted out to senior citizens, I had shot off a letter to your esteemed daily to highlight the glaring social neglect and as a consequence my letter to the Editor did appear in your daily (ST May 25,.2017) under the title ‘NEIGRIHMS neglecting senior citizens’.
Thereafter, I didn’t keep a tab on developments around this issue. However, in this month of August, i.e., post three months of my last visit to this health establishment, I found to my very pleasant surprise that the earlier blue-coloured outpatient card has been re-introduced.
In the development of this positive outcome, I fondly hope that my said letter printed in your paper three months ago may have triggered a wake- up call to this premier health unit. My heartfelt compliment therefore, goes to your daily in particular and the NEIGRIHMS authorities in general for ameliorating the plight of senior citizens at large.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K. Diengdoh,
Via email