Editor,
I am a local taxi driver who has been driving for more than a decade. I am also sure that I was the first driver in the city who started wearing a seat belt while driving. I am a law abiding citizen and concerned about traffic rules and the growing road congestion. I had once met our ministers in the previous government with my innovative idea about how to minimise congestion but there was no response from the government’s side. So I approached The Shillong Times with the idea and it was published on October 16, 2016, in the Sunday edition. But still there was no response from any agency concerned, both government and private. I also attended a brainstorming session on traffic problems at IIM Shillong. There I found that everyone has a problem with taxis and taxi drivers. Though I would disagree with what the eminent personalities there were saying but before I put forward my views I would like to apologise on behalf of all those drivers who are arrogant and who misbehave and violate traffic rules.
Traffic police and taxi drivers are the worst victims of road congestion that is worsening by the day. Drivers have to waste around 3 to 4 hours every day because of congestion. But the taxi fare has not been revised since 2011, as per my information. During this period fuel prices have increased by Rs 10-12. It is our biggest problem and we find it difficult to survive. However, government employees get 3 per cent increment every year. Even the staff of private firms get salary hikes. The price of everything has gone up. A cup of tea costs Rs 10, haircut is Rs 50-100. Even my children’s school fees are hiked by 10 % every year. Even tourist taxis have revised their fares then why not us?
Don’t taxi drivers have the right to ask when we can revise our fares? Today, passengers and taxi drivers share a bitter relationship and every now and then they go to police stations or write to newspapers complaining against us for violating the MV Act of 1988. I sincerely request our government and authorities concerned to kindly look into the matter and consider our request for fare revision as soon as possible. We are ordinary drivers from poor families with little education but we need to speak out and hence the letter. Nobody feels for us or writes in favour of us. Why?
Yours etc., ,
Gautam Gurung
Local cab driver
Pine Mount principal’s alleged misdemeanour
Editor,
Apropos the letter to the editor captioned “Uncouth behaviour” (ST May 8, 2019) I admit that at the time of writing this letter I have come to know only one side of the story from the social activist, B. Marbaniang. I don’t know the Principal’s side of the story. In the absence of the other side of the story I have to believe only what was alleged by Mr Marbaniang. I am really astonished to learn of the rude and uncivilized behaviour of the Principal of Pine Mount School. As per his letter in your daily and other news reports published in the vernacular dailies, Mr Marbaniang had approached the Principal for certain information but he rudely rebuked by the Principal. It was also learnt from the activist that the staff in the school are also scared of the Principal ‘like rats in front of a cat.’ If so then the Principal must be very arrogant and dictatorial and does not deserve to be the head of a premier educational institution like the Pine Mount which is also a Government Institution. Principals and teachers must be role models of good and civilized behaviour. We cannot afford to have rude and uncouth heads to run institutions. The Principal is actually a public servant and is holding the post to serve a public cause; not to throw tantrums around. Perhaps, it is high time for the Government to seriously consider appointing someone else in her place. We cannot afford to have Principals who misbehave with parents and visitors. Even during the recent ISC examination there was a goof-up of the answer scripts. Hence the behaviour of the Principal is found wanting in every way. However, I hope that the Principal also comes out with her side of the story so that the public comes to know the truth.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Meghalaya Assembly Building at last?
Editor,
I read with interest the news item, “Govt wants to complete Assembly building project before deadline” (ST May 7, 2019). If the present Govt is committed enough to complete the construction of the Assembly Building well within the stipulated time it would indeed be a feather in its cap. After all the State has too many failed and incomplete projects. To hear that the MDA Govt is all set to complete the building during its tenure is great news. For the past 18 years, Meghalaya witnessed several discussions, disagreements and loss of time and public money only to decide on a suitable site for the building since every new government in the past had it’s own site in mind.
This time around let us hope and keep our fingers crossed that the Assembly Building would stand tall for the State and it’s people to take pride in.
Yours etc.,
Jennifer Dkhar,
Via email