Editor,
In a modern state, the supply of clean and potable drinking water is a basic necessity. In Meghalaya, the government has spent tons of taxpayers’ money to put in place a Greater Shillong Water Supply scheme. But the quality of water being supplied to consumers is unfit for consumption. In the last few days, the locality of Lumdiengsoh, Motinagar has been receiving absolutely filthy and muddy water. I am sure the other areas would fare no better. The question which arises is whether there is some kind of filtration system before the water is pumped to consumers and secondly, what kind of mechanism exists to monitor the water being supplied? Do we have any accountability in our state?
Yours etc.,
Sanjeeb Kakoty
Shillong -14
Whither professionalism
Editor,
Jawed Habib is one of the leading Hair Salon chains in the world and in Shillong too, people go to the Jawed Habib salon with a belief that they will be provided good service. I had gone to the Jawed Habib salon in Anderson Arcade (Laitumkhrah) on Saturday with my wife because she wanted to get her hair dyed. We had to wait for a while and when her turn came, I did not expect that I would return shell-shocked. We had told the person there that my wife wanted to dye her hair to ‘golden’ and that a short trim has to be done.
The barber did things in a hurry and messed up my wife’s hair such that she had to accept a boy-cut. And instead of the golden dye, the person applied the Burgundy colour. It was a bitter experience. When questioned, the barber said that the makeover was looking good on my wife. I had to pay Rs 850 for something which was not wanted. This was not expected of a respectable brand. I request the franchisees to groom their staff well to suit the customer’s needs. I hope that this letter will prevent another such incident. I hope that what has happened with my wife does not happen with anyone else. I also request for some level of action on this matter.
Yours etc.,
Gerry Shira,
Via email
A disgraceful incident
Editor,
The newly built cricket stadium at Barsapara, Guwahati hosted its first ever international match recently. It was a highly successful match from administrative standpoint, not to mention the world class facilities in the stadium that were appreciated by players, media alike and had given enormous hopes to the people here of more such matches in the future.
But everything that starts well doesn’t always end well. A freak incident of some fan pelting stone at Australia’s team bus not only took all the sheen out of the well organised match but also catapulted Assam in general and Guwahati in particular to the Hall of Shame. It’s really sad that the entire city’s image went for a toss due to the action of one unsporting fan. The failure of the authorities to nab the real culprit exposes the connivance of the general public, when they should have rather handed over the offender to the police themselves for bringing the city’s name into disrepute.
Unlike what most of the people in this country think, patriotism is not just about cheering for India when they play a cricket match with Pakistan or chest-thumping when the army undertakes a surgical strike or troll a certain Maria Sharapova when she says she doesn’t know who Sachin is. It also
includes true love and honest feelings for fellow countrymen and work passionately for the country’s progress, development and well being. A conscious effort to not let any action of yours bring ignominy to your motherland forms the basis of this quality. But sadly, many of us do not possess these qualities and through our actions bring about infamy, either knowingly or unknowingly.
The prospect for this magnificent stadium being awarded a few IPL matches in the next season which looked pretty bright, has suddenly taken a nose-dive all because of the misdeed of one individual, not to mention the International matches that BCCI will definitely think twice before allotting one in the future.
We stay in a part of the country which many of the Indians living in other parts are still ignorant about. And such unforgivable behaviour will only abet our journey back to oblivion. Hopefully, the authorities will apprehend the perpetrator soon and inflict exemplary punishment that dissuades people from indulging in such misadventures in the future. Sincere and deepest apologies to Team Australia for this ugly episode; they played supremely well that day to outclass India in all departments. Hopefully, they’ll understand that one unruly fan doesn’t represent the cricketing fraternity of North-East India and come back to play here again.
Yours etc.,
Subhasish Das,
Via email
On Child Marriage
Editor,
Apropos your editorial, “SC on marital sex” (ST, Oct 13, 2017), the Supreme Court of India’s landmark verdict to stop the practice of child marriage is welcome. According to the recent report by Save the Children, 23.3 girls per 1000 in India have to give birth between the age of 15 and 19 years. These child brides are always at a greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and child birth. So, to complement the SC order, substantial educational scholarships must be provided for unmarried and poor girl children up to the age of 21 years to make child marriage totally a less attractive option in both of its negative (punishment) and positive (rewards) outcomes.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata