Editor,
We live in a highly competitive world where student’s career choices and efforts determine the quality of their life in future. The competition is increasing everyday and has engulfed the courses that were once called non-conventional. Some years back the largest chunk of student used to compete for mainstream courses like engineering, medical sciences, commerce etc., other courses like fine arts, hotel management, etc., were opted by selected few and hence getting admission was not a big deal. Today, even these courses have become hard to get and one has to compete with many students to get admission. The competition has become so brutal that there is no scope for mistakes in career choice. One small mistake can push you behind in the race towards your dreams. Now a days the career choices reflected by student’s resume is seen as the first impression of their decision making skills. Hence even a small wrong career step can leave a bad impression. Today students are expected to be clear about their dreams and the career path leading towards it. This creates a lot of pressure among students and their parents who find themselves in a dilemma while choosing the right career. Hence professional career guidance services should be the top priority of all colleges in our state which can serve as a rescue mission for the students and parents. A good career guidance professional not only directs students towards their dream but also gives them an end to end support in all the steps involved in the pursuit of that career.
Career and college guidance can help students understand their strengths and weaknesses and then match them with their skills and interests so that they can get the best suitable career choice. One wrong choice can not only cost a lot of money but also amount to waste of some precious years. Career and college guidance can help students effectively in their career choice part but there is no alternative to honest efforts. Career and college guidance matched with hard work, determination and perseverance can ensure a smooth path for our students. Therefore, colleges will need to be encouraged to procure such devices and to introduce Remedial classes/Tutorials/Career guidance classes for students. It is also imperative that Government of Meghalaya under State Higher Education Plan adopts measures to promote and support and introduce career counselling and guidance in colleges.
Yours etc.,
Phrangshai Hynniewta
Shillong – 2
Religious as sexual predators
Editor,
The ongoing debate on the circumstances involving two religious individuals from different religious orders or congregation in a so-called sexual harassment case that surfaced as part of the #MeToo campaign in our state is just another example of how weak our laws are when dealing with such transgressions. Notwithstanding the fact that such allegations have continued to surface within the Catholic Church in the past whether it was on children, young people or even adults, this is not centered just within one sect, religion etc., but it has happened in other religions as well. The Catholic Church does not defend those guilty and it has also in these few months asked priests, bishops and other religious men holding high and influential positions in the Church to resign and allow the law of the land to take over. The Vatican has categorically denounced such sinful, inhuman acts and Pope Francis has asked for forgiveness on behalf of his clergy. After-all, we are all humans and to err is human. What we need is to stand up to any social injustices and defend those oppressed by those in positions of power or otherwise. Hope the Church defines its ground on where it stands when it comes to differentiating a rapist masquerading as a religious individual or an oppressed victim left alone..
Yours etc…
Dominic S.Wankhar,
Via email
India and malnutrition
Editor,
India ranks 103rd among 119 countries in the 2018 Global Hunger Index. Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe have jointly published the report that identifies India as one of the countries with “serious level of hunger”. It zeros in on India, Djibouti and South Sudan as the countries where child wasting is most prevalent. Children under the age of five who become victims of acute under-nutrition with low weight for their height, are tagged in the group of child wasting. Among our neighbouring countries, India (103) is behind China (25), Sri Lanka (67), Myanmar (68), Nepal (72) and Bangladesh (86) and only ahead of Pakistan (106) and Afghanistan (111) on the Hunger Index. Hunger means the distress associated with a lack of sufficient calories that makes children disabled and stunted forever.
In the ‘State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2017’ report, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN has estimated that 190.7 million (14.5 per cent of our population) people are undernourished in India. Ironically, it has also been estimated by the UN that nearly 40 per cent of the food produced in India is wasted or lost. And this cost India one lakh crore rupees every year. Obsolete technology used in infrastructure and transporting food items is the culprit for food wastage in India.
Instead of engaging in temple tug of war, city renaming and statue building games or trying to find lives in Mars, we must adopt a better technology to reduce food wastage to save millions of living temples of our country. The government can start shelters in various places to distribute cooked food to hungry people after collecting excess and donated fresh cooked food from local eateries and houses that have sent missed call/ SMS/ WhatsApp requests to a particular number. In this way, wastage of cooked food can also be checked and managed in a proper way.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
