Editor,
The purpose of social media is to connect with other people, to promote brands and businesses to market products etc. In the context of politics, social media has become one way of bringing to the notice of elected politicians, issues where governance has failed. It is also one way of holding those in the government responsible for not delivering on their promises or to point out to them that there are flaws in the implementation of projects. It is also a good way to raise social and political concerns and to connect people around an idea or an issue or a concern. All the ministers in the BJP Government have a twitter handle that people can tweet to for any of their grievances. Even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is active on Twitter, hence citizens can reach out to him with any concern and to point out any fault in his Government. But look at the ministers in Meghalaya right from the Chief Minister down. Perhaps only one of them uses Twitter. The rest may not even know how to tweet. But that is another issue. The ministers/MLAs need not be themselves active on their Twitter handles but they can use their personal aides who can bring serious issues to their notice and respond accordingly. Of course many people here are yet to understand the power of social media. I sometimes browse through social media networks like Facebook and am appalled at the crude and offensive language used and lack of depth of those who register themselves on Facebook. We have a long way to go in understanding the purpose of social networking sites.
Now coming back to the leaders such as MLAs and ministers, I would like to ask them why they don’t have a twitter account. Is it because they fear that they will have to attend to public grievances all the time? But is that not their responsibility? On the flip side, the ministers can communicate to the public what schemes they have implemented and the success of the scheme. When I look at Piyush Goyal or Nirmala Seethraman’s Twitter handle I feel happy that they are constantly updating what they do. As Power Minister, Goyal has done a lot. Now as Railways and Coal minister too he has taken a lot of initiative and tweets about those so that citizens can engage with the Government. Defence Minister Seetharaman too is always reporting what she does. So does Sushma Swaraj the Minister for External Affairs.
So my question to our MLA candidates is (a) Do they know to use a Twitter handle? (b) Will they have one after being elected? (c) If not why not? The elected representatives should know they are representing a brand new generation that is techno-savvy and wants instant answers to their problems and that for them patience is not a good word as time is running out. Digital India would be meaningless if those in the government do not want to expose themselves to the public. Technology, particularly information technology is a two-edged sword. It cuts both ways. ‘
My hope even now is that the new set of MLAs we elect should be bright, progressive, young people who will not browbeat the electorate with messages of fear of the unknown but who will lead them with optimism into that unknown world with its promises of a brighter tomorrow. Am I being too optimistic? Well, optimism is necessary if we are to progress in this challenging and dynamic environment.
Yours etc.,
BL Lyngdoh,
Via email
A timely article
Editor,
The write up by diplomat, Rudi Warjri, “What the next Govt in Meghalaya can do” (ST Jan 18, 2017) is very timely and thought provoking. Governments can go on talking without getting anywhere. It is important for the government to spell out in clear terms what it has to do in the next 5 years, how it will generate revenue, which losses it will cut down and how it intends to achieve better connectivity and how to provide clean drinking water to the citizens. We don’t want a government that takes its citizens as non-professionals just because the government itself is led by total unprofessional politicians and bureaucrats who are resistant to change.
There are many things wrong with Meghalaya that Mr Warjri has pointed out but do our present set of politicians recognise the gravity of the situation? If they don’t see the problem of a large constituency of youth who are unemployed as the biggest and most challenging one and if they have no idea how to create the conditions for entrepreneurship and develop the necessary skill sets required to sustain a business then our youth might take to arms again and this is not an option. Will all the candidates read Mr Warjri’s article please? And there is no point lambasting the NDA Government or PM Modi if you don’t have an alternative economic roadmap.
Yours etc.,
Arjun Singh,
Via email
Polo the most unclean part of Shillong
Editor,
Polo must be the dirtiest place in Shillong. Litter is thrown everywhere especially around the market area and it is only when the Shillong Municipal Board’s garbage collection truck comes that the litter is cleaned up for a little while. Why can’t vigil be kept by the members of the Dorbar Shnong to see that people don’t just dump rubbish wherever they want? I recall that when Sri Sri Ravi Shankar came to Shillong it was reported in the media that he was unhappy with the dirt and filth that flows into the Umkhrah River. The Guru had given a call to his followers in Shillong to clean up the river but his appeal is now already forgotten. I wonder what will make them get into action. The Umkhrah River is an orphan and no one wants to claim it except perhaps if there is a scheme for reclaiming the river and crores of rupees are pushed into that project. Swacch Bharat has really not worked and if Modi returns to the same venue he would not believe what he sees. Truly the filth has reached a point where it is creating health hazards also. Shall we continue to remain silent or choose to speak up?
Yours etc.,
Lapynshai Lyngdoh,
Via email