Editor,
Through your esteemed daily I wish to draw the kind attention of the Government of Meghalaya on the subject mentioned above. State government employees who have served the State during their entire service careers and enjoyed the benefits of winter allowance, for the months from November to March, are deprived of that benefit after retirement, when they need it the most. Winters in Shillong are severe especially for senior citizens who need extra expenses for heating arrangements, warm clothing etc to save themselves from the bitter cold. Unfortunately, the government is indifferent towards this genuine need. May I draw the kind attention of the present Government of Meghalaya to consider the matter sympathetically and introduce winter allowance for the pensioners of Shillong, with immediate effect so as to provide them relief during the bitterly cold winter months?
Yours etc.,
Uma Purkayastha
Retd. Principal, Govt Girls H/S School
Shillong – 1
Where are the taxis of Shillong?
Editor,
Everyday, scores of people are seen standing and waiting outside Centre Point, Police Bazaar, shivering and trembling in the chilly weather, battling to find a taxi to take them back home. In a world where Ola and Uber cabs are the most common means of transportation, people of Shillong daily struggle to find a shared cab with five people and sometimes, more stuffed inside a single cab. The area around Centre Point is now famous for battle between passengers and cab drivers who tell passengers to book the entire cab or will drive away carrying absolutely no passengers. Out of all the places in Shillong, the toughest areas to find a cab for are Jhalupara, Bishnupur and Laban. There is rarely a cab that agrees to go to these areas, even while passengers fight over four seats. The the ones who find themselves a seat are considered lucky and the ones left behind obviously have to wait for at least 20 minutes or more for another cab. Life is a harrowing experience for daily commuters.
Last week when the entire city was enveloped in a blanket of fog, my mother and I had gone to Police Bazaar and it was already 5.15 p.m. by the time we were done with our work. We knew that getting a cab to Jhalupara would be a gruelling task but we decided to try anyway. We waited for exactly 30 minutes, found no cab to Jhalupara; the ones asking us to book the entire cab demanded Rs 150 and more. After another 15 minutes, mother and I decided to walk to Jhalupara. It took us over half an hour to reach home. By then my mother had developed a bad headache, and I got a terrible cold. It took us two days to regain our health. But this is not just about us; it is also about all the people who have to stand there, waiting for a cab and struggle to get inside one. Many are forced to book an entire cab or walk back home in this chilly weather at great cost to their health especially for the elderly. It’s also about all the people of Shillong who stand at Centre Point for hours but neither gets a cab nor the attention of the Traffic Policemen or the “Shillong Taxi Association,” who would definitely be aware of the unfortunate situation taking place daily at Police Bazaar but would never make an effort to ease the situation.
It is my earnest request to the Taxi Association and the Government to study this matter and take immediate action to remedy the situation. Remember there are more people using public transport than there are people with vehicles of their own. The Government’s basic responsibility is to ensure ease of public transport and stop allowing the cabs to dictate terms to passengers.
Yours etc.,
Avantika Sharma
Via email
Imran Khan’s impertinence
Editor,
After the partition from India the population of total minority community in Pakistan was about 12-13%. During last seven decades after a planned and systematic decimation of the major minority community in the province of Sindh and other places the percentage of total minority community (Hindu, Sikh, Christians and Buddhists) in Pakistan today is about 5%. Propped up by the army and ISI combine Imran Khan has been seated as Prime Minister to steer a country with a nose-dived economy. The episode of Asia-Bibi, should teach Imran the first lesson of establishing “zero-intolerance” in Pakistan and to free the country of “made-in” Pakistan religious-fanatics and terrorists.
India has had two occasions when its Presidents were from the minority community. Supreme Court Chief Justice of India was also chosen from the minority community leaving aside high ranking army officers aplenty. Many members of the minority community are holding important ministerial portfolios in India. In sports too minority communities are patronized for participation and performance without any discrimination. In Pakistan occupied Kashmir “Vox populi” is gagged and the human rights of citizens are completely denied and the atrocious Pakistan army force innocent people to join terrorist camps for training to become religious fanatics and jihadi terrorists to infiltrate into India and prepare for proxy-war.
Article 19 of the Constitution of India provides protection of certain rights vis-à-vis freedom of speech, etc.’ But that does not mean one has unlimited rights to harass army personnel, hurl filthy abuses at the Air Chief of Staff and pelt stones at army jawans on duty and killing them. It is expected that advocates of tolerance would agree that’ too much of everything is bad. Although the Constitution has provided enough freedom of speech it does not permit excessive freedom or misuse of the provision.
Imran Khan needs to show by example, first by establishing a total tolerant environment for the minority community, ensure safety and security of their life and property, restore human rights of the people of PoK and Pakistan and free them of religious-fanatics and terroristic nurseries. He must fully realize that “charity begins at home’ and example is better than unsolicited advice. Only when he has done the above can he advice Prime Minister Modi how to deal with minority communities in India.
Captaining a cricket team and functioning as a head of state are very difficult sides of a coin.
Yours etc.,
Samares Bandyopadhyay
Advocate, Kolkata High Court