Editor,
Through your esteemed paper, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities to the acute and chronic water shortage faced by the residents of Oxford Hill, Kench’s Trace. For nearly three months our water supply has steadily dwindled to the point that now there are days we don’t get any water at all. We have run from pillar to post in our efforts to find out the reason for the disappearance of our water but to no avail. We are at a loss as to what to do about our acute water shortage since the PHE seems to think that this is only a very recent and temporary phenomenon. However, we the residents know that our water troubles started nearly three months ago and the irony is this year is one of the wettest years we’ve had in a long time so this time the standard excuse of ‘the streams and springs are all dry’ cannot be applied. No one knows where our water supply has gone. It seems to have disappeared into thin air. And the PHE too, sad to say, is not in the least bothered to find out the reason for this problem and to help us.
We cannot live without a regular and adequate supply of water anymore and we demand that the PHE look into our water woes and take up this matter seriously and immediately.
Yours etc,
Amanda Khyriem,
Via email
Driving rules should be enforced
Editor,
Through this letter I request the concerned authorities to make laws against using mobile phones while driving, to prohibit smoking inside cars if there are children inside and basically all those unwanted activities pertaining to road ethics. Some of the above mentioned trespasses are so common in Tura and I’m assuming even in other parts of the State. As a student who travels in auto-rickshaws, what worries me is when a driver picks up his phone to answer while driving. This is literally taking a passengers life for granted. Hope this reaches the concerned authorities.’
Yours etc.,
Chanangbil Marak,
Via email
Save the innocence of children
Editor,
This refers to your editorial “How safe are our students” (ST- Sept 12, 2017). The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of 2012 has guidelines to deal with each case. But a lot of cases are settled quietly and that is extremely dangerous. Children either don’t report the cases, or the cases are hushed up even if they do report them. The police should not be the only agency that deals with children who have been abused. There should be a team of specialised child psychiatrists and other child care professionals who can ensure continued support to the child. When a case of child abuse is reported, hardly any support is offered to the child and the family to get their lives back on track. When children take the extremely difficult step of reporting abuse we need to ensure they are properly supported and get the help they need when they are brave enough to give evidence in court. The urgent need of the hour is enactment of laws providing for stringent punishment for the perpetrators of crime against children, and their implementation. Don’t we think all of us should break our silence to save the innocence of children?
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad- 15
Can we see change in 2018?
Editor,
As a concerned citizen I would like to ask one simple question to all the sixty MLAs what have they done for nearly five years since they were elected. The true test of a good Government is whether or not it is able to solve the major problems and issues that are blocking the progress of the State. The reason our state is facing a lot of hurdles is because of the lack of policies, regulations and laws which are supposed to be legislated by our elected representatives.
If our elected representatives in both the State Assembly and the District Ccouncil are not capable of making laws which would protect the interest of the people and their customary practices and uplift the economy then the mandate bestowed on them by the people would be meaningless and they would be the laughing stock. So I request all residents of Meghalaya to choose people who are not only good in giving out schemes and claim to be good leaders but rather choose those people who would bring a change in the system. The reason I write this letter is because I have seen and experienced myself the plight and predicament of the people of our State. The poor and middleclass hardworking Khasi men and women of my locality of Nongstoiñ are eager for a better, speedier and transparent system and a better economic standard with a much wider and more inclusive job opportunities.
Yours etc.,
Jerry R. Marweiñ
Pyndengrei,
Nongstoiñ