Editor,
It is encouraging that we have a Chief Minister who is an ace footballer. Our previous CM, Dr Mukul Sangma enthralled music lovers across the country. Many youths from other states envy our youthful CMs. Of course, nothing could be better lubricants than sports and music in life. They potentially enhance the mind’s efficiency and keep the body fit and active.
At a time when drug abuse and alcoholism are posing a serious threat to the society, sports can well be used to kick out the menace. Unemployment and idleness are two situations that often drive the youth straight into drug addiction. In view of the increasing drug abuse prevalent among youths, the government should adopt various measures to contain the menace. Sports and employment creation should be given top priority.
I think it’s not irrelevant to mention here how the picture of the Chief Minister in goalkeeper get-up, published recently in ‘The Shillong Times’, helped me drive home the points to a druggist. A class-12 passed substance- dependent boy was very impressed by the fact that the State’s CM has an avid interest in sports. With a deep sense of regret, he disclosed that he was misled by his wrong circle of friends. He also blamed his mobile phone for acting as an enabler by giving information about the vendors and their availability, where, how and when. All at his finger tips! After critically explaining the adverse effect of a drug upon the body and mind, I extracted the “promise” from the boy that he would not return to it. He has promised to practice football every day. The boy is quite convinced now and thus determined to knock the addiction out of him with the help of sports.
Hope the athletic CM will give serious thought to this considering the frightening increasing in drug abuse in the state. The youths are our state assets and their “energy” must be channelized for productive purpose. Sporting activities are one way of weaning away our youth from drugs. Under the care of compassionate coaches and mentors we can get our youth back from their destructive habits. So let’s all think together and get our youth into meaningful activities before it’s too late.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Via email
Opposition should raise the right issues
Editor,
Dr. Mukul Sangma and his colleagues in the Opposition were correct in raising the issue of the Assam-Meghalaya border problems, the discontinuation of the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme and the unjustified continuance of the barricades of the Mawlong Harijan Colony by the MDA government. I congratulate them for raising these issues. Yes, the relentless criticism of Dr. Mukul and Co against the MDA government on these issues is fully justified. Many skirmishes have taken place at the Assam-Meghalaya border during the short tenure of the MDA government which have resulted in many dislocations in the lives of our border people, yet the Government did not take steps to address the problem either by visiting the place of occurrence and helping out the affected people or by engaging with their Assam counterpart. Nothing of that sort has taken place so far. In fact since March this year Conrad Sangma has not met his counterpart from Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, to sort out the border problem. This shows the total insensitivity of the present Government. This is unacceptable indeed. We demand that this Government should immediately hold border talks with Assam Government not only to stop the skirmishes and tensions in the borders but also to arrive at a lasting solution to the long pending border problem.
On the discontinuance of the Health Insurance (MHIS) the government knew well in advance that this scheme was to expire soon but took no steps to ensure continuance due to the carelessness and total neglect of the Principal Secretary, Secretary and the Health Minister. The scheme was allowed to lapse and this has resulted in the hardships of the people of the state with regards to health insurance cover. This too is nacceptable. What are these people doing there in the Secretariat ? Are they there to serve the public or for self aggrandizement? We urge the Minister of Health, and the senior officials to immediately restore the health insurance scheme for the people of the state immediately. If there are problems, sort them out and opt for the best option for the benefit of the people and not for any selfish ends.
On the continuance of security barricades and cordon of the Harijan colony at Mawlong Hat or Them Metor even after nearly five months of the incident, this is sheer lack of governance and poor security arrangements by the Home(Police) department. The barricades should be immediately removed to allow traffic to flow freely through the Harijan colony which is a thoroughfare. The barricades have affected the flow of traffic especially the SPTS maxi taxi and buses. We demand that the cordon and the barricades of the locality should be immediately removed to facilitate free flow of traffic and to remove the sense of curfew-like insecurity of the public at large. The barricades are not at all justified as there is no insecurity or law and order problem in the area. The fear of the Police is highly misplaced here and it is time for the barricades to go.
Lastly, I appeal to Dr. Mukul and his colleagues in the Opposition to raise the right public issues and make the right noises at the right time but, please don’t indulge in political gimmicks and rhetoric just to make a political point for the public abhor them.
Yours etc.
Philip Marwein,
Via email
The Art of Giving
Editor,
The sun is equally generous to all, especially to those who live out in the open ~ poor people, flora and fauna. The burning sun gets comfort and reward in and identifies itself with the smile of sunflowers, dancing kids and the bodies that enjoy heavenly bliss in basking in its morning glory or melatonin – rich hypnotic noon or melancholic late afternoon. Trees pray to the generous sun to return soon whenever it sets in the western horizon. This is the moment the birds and animals feel that their amazingly generous friend is retiring and they are to hide in a safe corner with the hope that they will again be able to feel the warmth of generosity in the universe.
Such is the magic of the sun’s egalitarian generosity where the have – nots have a bigger share than the haves. This generosity of finding satisfaction in the satisfaction of others is the key to happiness. The harmony of the whole universe is in generous spreading and not in coiling up. A river dies if it stops flowing. In the poem, “Stagnant Water”, Ellie Shelley wrote ~ “Water that stands still becomes a/ poisonous petri dish of parasites/ No one willingly drinks it/ No one, not even dogs can survive on it” The Mother (Mirra Alfassa) rightly says that if one were spread out in all things; if all the vibrations which come and go expressed the need to merge into everything, to widen oneself, grow, not by remaining within one’s limits but coming out of them, and finally to be identified with everything, one would no longer have anything to lose for one would have everything.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
