Editor,
With some sense of self-satisfaction, I feel elated to know that the Meghalaya Govt. has for the first instance endorsed the recommendation of the Meghalaya 5th pay Commission in granting Winter Allowances to the retired staff and family pensioners residing in specified State’s locations for consecutive four months annually with effect from November to February end, vide OM NO.F (PR) 57/2017/18 dt 7.12.2017. This news must have come as a piece of heart-warming information to the retirees in the forbidding chilling months of winter in Shillong and other such places sharing identical winter conditions.
Incidentally, I feel enthused to articulate the fact that such allowance has come to pass perhaps due to one of my letters that figured in your esteemed daily (ST May 24, 2017) under the caption, ‘Issue before the Meghalaya 5th pay Commission’ wherein I have advanced 2 (two) timely suggestions before this Commission when it was at the fag end of its session. The first suggestion appealed to the Commission to revisit the blanket ban on compassionate appointments even to the most deserving applicants which was imposed since December 2010, and the other solicitation being to extend the hitherto inadmissible Winter allowances to the retirees of our State Govt., given that in a brief span of 2 (two) years post retirement the superannuated staffers would be dubbed ‘Senior Citizens’. And under such ages, the impact of the winter chill would have telling effect on their increasing frailty with passing of years. In a word, I humbly feel self-assured to say it was most likely my letter with its no-nonsense suggestion to the said Commission that nudged the latter to recommend to the Govt the granting of a winter allowance to the retirees.
On the flip side though, I am disillusioned that the State Govt. is still ambivalent as to how to deal with the revival of compassionate appointment which the Meghalaya 5th Pay Commission had recommended. The same has become a contentious issue on pending cases of those worthy candidates whose working parents, guardian etc had passed away after the deadline of December, 2010 till the setting up of the Meghalaya 5h Pay Commission. Thus, I hope the present dispensation shall humanely introspect and formulate actionable mechanisms to satisfy all concerned to the utmost possible. Thus, the aggrieved ones may have every right to say that the erstwhile Govt. had imposed a ban on compassionate appointments without in the least thinking of the adverse consequences that would follow. Either way, I hope those at the helm will reconsider the question of compassionate appointment, based exclusively on meritorious grounds. In fine, I therefore, feel obliged to the Meghalaya 5th pay Commission headed by P.J. Bazeley and all its member for, perhaps, considering my aforesaid 2 (two) appeals and to your esteemed daily which couldn’t have been printed at a more opportune moment
Your etc…
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Shillong-2
Unwarranted knee-jerk reaction
Editor,
On the evening of October 29, 2018 near Seven Set School I approached a school girl (dressed in Pine Mount School uniform) for
directions as to where ‘Malki Point’ is when all of a sudden her father appeared before me and threatened me with dire
consequences of getting me bashed up as he apparently thought I was misbehaving with his daughter. He further told me to stay away from her as he claims to have seen me with his daughter before. But the truth is that I never knew of her existence prior to the incident. His daughter also tried telling him that I was only seeking assistance for directions but the father would not listen. The man is of an average
height with a dark complexion. He also claims to be a Doctor having some sort of acquaintance with the Police. My only objective to approach this person was to seek assistance to my desired destination.
I humbly request you to please highlight my grievance so that people are aware of the atrocity and shame I was subjected to.
Yours etc.,
Ronald Rynjah Sagoipa
Via email
