Editor,
I was absolutely shocked to read the order dated Nov 24, 2018 of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner instructing that the report cards of all those students who refused to take the MR vaccinations should be withheld, and this should also be applied to new admissions. Never in the history of Meghalaya have I come across such a display of arrogance! This is so disgusting and the act, to me, is so undemocratic and authoritarian in nature! Have we gone mad or is it that power has gone to our heads! What right has the district administration to order me or anyone to take this medicine or that vaccination? Is a plague sweeping through our district? If not, then why such a desperate move? Please don’t play with the rights of the citizens and students just to pep up your government statistics!
The State Government would do well to order the withdrawal of this most repulsive order ASAP!
Yours etc.,
Eugene D. Thomas
Shillong – 6.
UCC Road in a pathetic condition
Editor,
I would like to draw attention of the local MDC, MLA and the concerned departments through the columns of your newspaper. The UCC Road which is only 15 kms approximately from Shillong has been in a pathetic condition for nearly two years now. The road is badly damaged and has been neglected. The road serves a large number of residents in the area. The road in the area is broken at many places. There is no smooth run for the transport from Dykes (Lad Umsaw) to UCC. This has badly affected people in many localities, Umsaw, Umniuh, Umbir, Mawlyndep and many others.
This road is so bad that the sick, students, traders, farmers, tourists and others who have to pass through it are likely to suffer from a broken spine. Come to think of it, there are health centres, educational institutions and resorts, etc in the area but no one bothers to make common cause. The taxi drivers from Dykes to UCC and vice-versa have no options other than charging more money from the passengers. This has affected everyone who uses this road and who cannot afford to use the taxis. The vehicles plying though this road have to halt after every four-five minutes just to adjust with the road breaks and pot holes. The road gets flooded even after a slight rain. The residents, NGOs and the users are in deep anguish on this account and have repeatedly expressed their bitterness though press but no concrete action has been taken on this matter. The concerned department seems to adopt an attitude of “coul not care less,” to this fact and takes no responsibility at all for the people of the area.
I appeal to the authorities right from the local MLA and the concerned departments to focus their attention on the area and to get the road constructed without any further delay.
Yours,etc.
Batskhem Mawlein
Shillong-2
Wanted a barrier- free environment
Editor,
Apropos the news report captioned, “City needs to be sensitive to PwDs”(ST November 24, 2018), Meghalaya Government identifying in its first phase around 21 buildings to construct ramps for persons with disabilities will be a holistic and comprehensive and would cater to PwDs of all kinds. Public utilities and buildings in our city are overwhelmingly oblivious to their presence . For the disabled to negotiate with daily public life it is a choice between making do with numerous obstacles and not negotiating at all . Accessibility for people with disabilities was recognized as a right under the Persons with Disabilities( Equal Opportunities Protection of Rights and Full Participation )Act,1995, which mandated barrier free access in all public places and transport systems. An accessible barrier-free environment is the first step towards fulfilling the right of people with disabilities to participate in all areas of community life. A Governmental initiative (Sugamya Bharat or Accessible India) will certainly help but the rest is up to us to be aware of the benefits of bringing the disabled closer into the centre of citizenry.
Yours etc.
Advocate M Haque,
Via email
Need to restore democratic traditions
Editor,
Google celebrated Children’s Day in India by sharing the national winner of the 2018 Doodle 4 Google contest – a student from Mumbai – Pingla Rahul More’s doodle on its homepage on November 14. Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday on November 14 is celebrated as a Children’s Day in India as a tribute to the first Prime Minister of India for his love towards children. Apart from his love for children, Jawaharlal Nehru must also be remembered for his love for democracy. India lost Gandhiji in 1948 and Sardar Patel in 1950. Jawaharlal Nehru could have easily followed the crooked path of becoming a dictator like his contemporaries in other countries and undermined our democratic institutions and the Constitution. But he never did it. Rather he always treated opposition leaders with respect.
Nehru served India as a Prime Minister for 17 years and strengthened – democracy, secularism, socialism and our unity in diversity – the four pillars of our Constitution. His death even made a young leader in the opposition, Atal Bihari Vajpayee say, “The loss to Parliament is irreparable. Such a resident may never grace Teen Murti again. That vibrant personality, that attitude of taking even the opposition along, that refined gentlemanliness, the greatness we may not again see in the near future.”
Indeed, Nehru has become more relevant now as a model democratic leader in a parliamentary democracy. When democratic institutions are unfortunately being undermined, we need to follow the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru instead of undermining his contributions. This is necessary to restore these institutions to their former glory which they enjoyed in the days of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Via email