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Editor, |
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| If there is one quality that Conrad Sangma has which his predecessor Mukul Sangma lacked so visibly, it is the ability to listen when spoken to and to take notes when a suggestion is given. This is the trade mark of one who means business and who takes people seriously. This is the view shared by many citizens and officials who meet him on a daily basis. In terms of their ability to grasp the problems and opportunities of Meghalaya both the Sangmas are equally poised. But, whereas Mukul Sangma had a different leadership style of walking alone, Conrad Sangma tries to carry his colleagues along and gives them enough space to envision their own architecture for development in their respective departments but which are in synch with the larger goals. So far the only wrong move made by the MDA Government is the quest for luxury vehicles which Meghalaya cannot afford. In the MDA there is mutual respect among the current crop of ministers and Mr Prestone Tynsong by virtue of being an elder is given the respect he deserves.
Dr Donkupar Roy the UDP President and Speaker Legislative Assembly has observed that Conrad Sangma needs to be voted back to power so that he can retain his chief minister’s post. This is very gracious of the former Chief Minister to give his younger colleague a chance at guiding the destiny of Meghalaya at this juncture in its history. Conrad Sangma is better able to understand the areas of job creation for the youth. He has already outlined ambitious plans for an IT park to create employment avenues for many of our youth who are now adding value to companies outside the state. We expect Conrad Sangma to put his management background to good use and manage the Government more professionally by setting pragmatic timelines for projects that are announced. Officers are notorious for not following through what ministers announce. Hence the young CM should regularly evaluate his officers from the youngest to the oldest. There is no time for complacency. In the past seven years of Congress rule there is not much that can be recounted as a success story although much is spoken about the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and the many subsidiaries created under it. The other day a regular columnist HH Mohrmen spoke of the distress sale of tomatoes and other vegetables in Jaintia Hills. We hope the CM is seized of the matter and that the Agriculture Minister takes stock of the plight of farmers in Jaintia Hills. I am sure the farmers elsewhere too suffer the same fate. The priority of this Government should be Agriculture and food processing. Of course Education, Health, Power, Roads, Water Supply too are important but if each minister is held accountable on a regular basis it should help set the trajectory straight.
Yours etc., Mawdondor Sohtun, Shillong- 3 |
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Welfare diplomacy
Editor,
This is in response to your editorial, “Imran in the saddle” (ST, Aug 21, 2018). If we use cricket terms, we can say that after the skipper of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif retired hurt, Pakistan has got a new captain in Imran Khan. We have fond memories of healthy and sporting competitions between the two all time great all-rounders namely India’s Kapil Dev and Pakistan’s Imran Khan. Can we now see such a healthy competition between the two neighbouring countries at the diplomatic level?
India and Pakistan need to wage an all-out war against poverty, hunger, malnutrition, unemployment, child labour, illiteracy, tuberculosis, malaria, dengue and other diseases in their own countries and not against each other. Indeed, both India and Pakistan should start a healthy competition in human development.
India and Pakistan are the backbenchers in the class of human development. The former is at 131st position and the latter at 147th in the Human Development Index rank. It will be highly beneficial for the people of both the countries if a welfare diplomacy can be launched to come at least at par with Sri Lanka’s 73rd rank in Human Development. To achieve it, India and Pakistan need a welfare diplomacy and not a warfare one between them.
Indeed, a new welfare diplomacy is the need of the hour. The bottom line of it will be to say the truth loud and clear that in the case of conflict, it is the weapon sellers who always win at the cost of the people of both the countries. Indeed, any war in general and Indo-Pak war in particular are nothing but staging of Aesop’s story of a monkey winning the bread while two cats fight for the same.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Needless controversy over a hug
Editor,
The row created by the BJP over former Cricketer cum Congress leader Navjyot Singh Sidhu’s hugging of Pakistan’s Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and sitting besides POK President on the swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan Prime Minister, is hyper critical and hinges on creating unnecessary hyper- nationalism to gain political brownie points. In fact, the former Indian Cricketer deserves to be congratulated and given a pat on the back by our PM, for going that extra mile in improving India-Pakistan relationship. Both India and Pakistan cannot afford to remain in a permanent state of hostility and politicians from both sides of the border need to go that extra mile to improve relationship with each other. Sidhu by hugging Pakistan’s Army Chief had set a good precedence for both the country’s leadership, that no matter how bitter the past is, it can still be forgotten and efforts made to create a better future..
Yours etc.,
Sadiq H.Laskar,
Guwahati.