Editor,
A huge controversy has arisen out of the Governor’s address to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in Hindi and Ampareen Lyngdoh, Laitumkhrah MLA walking out in protest. Let’s be clear that both Hindi and English are recognised official languages in India. The issue therefore is not over language but about sheer decent behaviour. Language is a means of communicating with each other. So if the audience does not understand what the speaker is saying then communication has failed. The Governor’s Address is usually about the policies; vision and programmes that the Govt has in store for the next one year. He makes important and crucial official statements about policies of the state and what they mean to the people. It’s therefore important that the legislators and other people listening (let’s not forget that the Governor’s speech is always broadcast to the larger audience of the state) understand what the Governor has to say.
Now when the Governor has full knowledge that perhaps 90% of the legislators present in the house and 70% of the people outside listening to his speech are unfamiliar with Hindi, and to deliberately insist on speaking that language, especially on important and crucial policy issues, smacks of the highest arrogance. “I will say what I like and if you don’t understand what I’m saying then you can jolly well lump it”, sort of attitude. The Governor is our honoured guest. It is indeed hard to understand why he acted the way he did. If he didn’t know English, the official language of Meghalaya, it would have been better not to speak at all, than to insult his hosts. That is simple common sense. Its sheer decent social behaviour expected in ordinary human interaction. It’s called culture and in official terms is known as decorum. We used to have lots of it around. Raj Bhavan however seems to think that’s of least importance today.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Whither Reservation Policy?
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily I would like to place this open letter to the Chairman and Board of Directors of the Meghalaya Rural Bank.
The Meghalaya Rural Bank, with 94 branches, throughout the state had recently undergone a promotion process. Through IBPS exam, the bank has inducted 2 ST, 4 SC, 8 OBC, 18 GEN candidates for the posts. Most of the new recruits are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
First, though the exam was conducted by IBPS how did the the management not comply with the State’s Reservation Policy of 40 Khasi & Jaintia candidates, 40 Garo candidates; 3 for Other tribes and 17 for General. Instead the Bank followed its own reservation policy.
Secondly, as it is a regional rural bank why wasn’t it made mandatory for aspirants to know and communicate local language. How can banking aspirants, without any knowledge of local languages, communicate and help people, through the branches, in far flung areas of the State? Do they expect these people to be posted only in urban areas, or regional or head office of the Meghalaya Rural Bank? Communication is the very fabric of àny relationship, so how do they except a non- Meghalayan to communicate and develop a relationship with people? This will, in the long run, affect the business of the bank. During earlier recruitments, it was made mandatory for MRB aspirants to read learn and write a local language.
Through this letter I call upon the newly elected Chief Minister, Mr Conrad Sangma, to stand by his verbal commitment of protecting the interests of the youth of the state and to intervene in the selection process of the MRB in which the State Govt has a stake of 15 %. By not adhering to the State Reservation Policy the MRB is allowing employment opportunities for local youth to slip by.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Plight of polling officials
Editor,
I would like to draw the attention of the District Election Office to kindly consider the plight and requests of the Government employees who were eon election duty:
Firstly, there ought to be more counters for collection and depositing of materials and envelopes so as to speed up the work and to avoid long queues for long hours which is very tiring especially for those who have been posted in remote areas.
Secondly, there should be also more counters for collection of EVMs and not only a few as witnessed in the concluding day of the election at JN Stadium.
Thirdly, more medical centers should be placed for senior officials who need to be attended to after their respective duties.
I request the higher authorities to consider our plight.
Yours etc.,
Jacob Lyngkhoi,
Via email