Editor,
The tribal and non- tribal economy was well described by Avner Pariat in ‘Two concepts of economy'(ST May 17, 2018). There are two concepts for healthcare too in Meghalaya- the government employees and the others. While the former go out of the state for all forms of medical treatment and get reimbursed for everything, including the travel and accommodation, the latter don’t get even basic cashless treatment coverage. The MHIS, which is touted as a cashless facility is rendered as a pay-first-and-get-reimbursed-later scheme in several hospitals. Many patients are unable to pay for treatment even in government hospitals like NEIGRIHMS, which has started charging patients for some services. The reimbursement and the amount approved for most treatments is grossly inadequate.
While the government employees get their travel and accommodation reimbursed, these poor citizens suffer. Even traveling from their villages to Shillong and staying here is beyond their reach. This is perpetuating as the government employees do not question the government as to why health care in the state is not improved, and the government continues its tie up with commercial hospitals in South India, enriching such businesses. It’s sad that the tax paid by the poor ‘others’ is used to pay for the treatment of these government employees.
Hope the government will review its health care policy and keep commercial players out, so as to help the ‘others’ in the state.
Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen
(Name withheld on request)
Kudos to the Umroi MLA !
Editor,
I have been following the deliberations of the Budget session of the Assembly and I am very impressed by the issues taken up by the MLA of Umroi constituency such as unemployment, rat hole mining and various other important issues concerning the state as a whole while others spoke on issues pertaining only to their constituencies. The point raised by George B Lyngdoh, MLA against the hasty move for lifting of the ban on rat hole coal mining should be appreciated by all law abiding citizens and by those who want to live in a healthy atmosphere. I, for one, am a strong supporter of the NGT ban on rat hole mining of coal and rampant and savage mining of limestone which has been the reason for the loss of forest cover in the state and destroying the environment in a massive way. I could see only few individuals/ families benefitting from such commercial activities whereas the majority of the citizens are suffering in various forms ,from exploitation, failure of law and order, crime, drugs, human trafficking, deaths from diseases due to lack of safe drinking water etc., You will agree with me if you personally visit Shahlang, Lad Rymbai, Dawki, Ichamati, or Borsora or other coal belts of the Garo Hills. I understand that many legislators are in favour of lifting the ban to generate their income and to please their supporters, but at the same time they should realize that they are ‘Legislators’ of the State and they are duty bound to protect the larger interests of the state.
Yours etc.,
Peter L Lamin
Jowai
Whither democracy!
Editor,
India is the largest Democracy in the world where the representatives are elected by the people to work for the people and are of the people. Democracy can also be termed as, “rule by the majority.” But the recent incidents that have taken place in our country has altered the definition of democracy. I may be wrong but everyone is welcome to clear my doubts. The recent election results in Karnataka declared BJP to be the single largest party to win the election and the Governor had invited them to form the government and given 15 days time to prove their majority, whereas the coalition of Congress and JD(S) which crossed the halfway mark and wanted to form the government was not given that opportunity. If democracy means rule of the majority then the coalition of Congress and JD(S) should have been given the first chance to form the government as they have the majority. This principle was followed in the case of Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya where the government was formed by the coalition of BJP and the other regional parties of respective states which had proved their majority in spite of Congress being the single largest party to have won the elections in those states. The same ought to have been followed in Karnataka too. I’m not inclined to any political party and I don’t know the scenario of Karnataka politics, but these instances of formation of government in all the different states of our country following different rules leave unanswered questions in my mind. Where is our country heading towards in the fight between political parties.
With a Salutation!
Editor,
Your report of May 16 about the Chief Minister’s deadline of 45 days to the concerned authorities to
finalise the Education Policy was most welcome. I salute you, Mr Chief Minister for the bold command.
Mr. Chief Minister, Sir, may I please draw your kind attention to the Meghalaya State Policy for
Persons with Disabilities which was drafted in 2007 and circulated in 2009 but had never been adopted
as it was not put up to the Cabinet. I had brought this to the notice of the Department of Social
Welfare no less than four times, the last being at the State Co-ordination Committee Meeting on
October 19, 2016. I was given to understand that the Department was awaiting the commencement of the amended Act – The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. With this new Act the previous Act of 1995 was revoked. Twenty one years, from 1995 till 2016, passed by for the Government to adopt the Policy for
the Disabled. I sincerely hope the Act of 2016 does not follow suit and the Disabled population need to
wait for another two decades for the Government to follow the guidelines of a Policy. An Act or a
Policy if not implemented in totality is not even worth the paper it is written on.
Yours etc,
Sajjad M. Ali,
Dwar Jingkyrmen