Editor,
I write to support the views of Pynshai Shynret expressed in the letter published in your esteemed daily (ST Aug 27, 2019) regarding utilisation of the space in the Barik Junction for construction of fly-overs under the ‘Smart City Project’. Constructing Shopping Malls in the Barik compound is definitely a ‘No’ ‘No.’ In fact, I am in favour of preserving the original timber residential building and in removing the eye-sores around it. There would still be enough space for widening the roads as well as constructing flyovers.
Recently it was reported that there was a proposal for creating a Traffic Engineering Cell/Wing in the Public Works Department. This is a welcome development. Let PWD lead the effort to reduce traffic congestion, with the support of the Police, Transport and the Urban Affairs Departments. Definitely, ‘Efficient Transportation’ must be an integral part of the ‘Smart City Project’ and construction of flyovers is perhaps the only solution for reduction in traffic congestion at road junctions in and around the City. Drawing on the long experience and the brainstorming which has been going on over the past few years, it should be feasible to draw up a holistic plan with structural and non-structural measures for easing life in the City.
But time is running out as the transportation capacity of the existing road system is fast reaching its maximum. Therefore, ’Smart’ action is necessary.
Yours etc,
S Ahmed,
Via email
Illegal recruitment methods
Editor,
Through your esteemed I wish to highlight the anomalies and illegal practices of the District Social Welfare Department, South Garo Hills, Baghmara, for the information of all concerned and for taking necessary action by the higher authorities of the State Government of Meghalaya. An advertisement was published sometime in the month of June-July in The Shillong Times inviting application for nine different posts under District Social Welfare Department, South Garo Hills, Baghmara. Out of these posts there were two vacancies for the post of Para Medical personnel 24×7 with Rs 15,000 as monthly remuneration. Accordingly, some interested candidates applied for the posts. According to the General Information at SL. No 7, of the Advertisement it was mentioned that, “For the shortlisted candidates from Sl. No 1-7, the time and venue for Skill Test and Interview will be intimated later. But there was no such intimation before the time scheduled for the Skill Test which was conducted on August 28, 2019. A notice in this regard was displayed on the notice board only a day ahead of the scheduled date i.e on August 27, 2019. The notice also did not have any date of issue. As a result, many applicants and aspiring candidates could not turn up for the Skill Test that was conducted on that day. One lady applicant on getting the information from her friend over phone, rushed to the venue to appear in the Skill Test. She was the lone candidate for the post of Para Medical Personnel. However, even after the time had lapsed, one male applicant too, arrived after getting information about the ongoing Skill Test being conducted at the venue. Since he arrived after the scheduled time he should have been barred from taking the Skill Test, yet, he was allowed to do so. The time schedule for the Skill Test was fixed from 9:30 am onwards.
Following the Skill Test, results were out and the list of candidates selected for appearing in the Interview, was also out. It was found that the word NIL was written against the post of Para Medical Personnel which means that no candidates had appeared for the Skill Test for the posts. For the said posts, actually two candidates had appeared in the Skill Test hence the word NIL should not had been written. This is a gross violation of the guidelines and the norms of conducting the interview and is a great injustice to the candidates. The steps taken lacked transparency and the good practices of conducting interviews. The authorities involved in this interview process are making fools of the genuine candidates aspiring for the jobs only to get their own candidates selected by depriving genuine and deserving candidates.
It is shocking to find that the notice for the interview is given only a day before so that other candidates who were mostly from the rural and remote areas, having no mobile networks would not be able to appear in the Test. Such was the plan of the authorities to capture the posts for their own candidates. The Garo NGOs from Achik Asong must not remain mute to such practices of favouritism, nepotism and illegalities. Someone has to file an RTI in this regard to know the details and an inquiry must be initiated to unearth the truth behind all these malpractices and illegalities.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Unfair recruitment at NEIAH
Editor,
This pertains to the eligibility criteria for the recent official advertisement of various vacant posts at North Eastern Institute of Ayurvedic and Homeopathy (NEIAH) Shillong where the so called Skill Test has been called for the short listed candidates on 30.08.2019. As per its advertisement no. ADVT.No.NEIAH/ADVT/01/2015 all posts should be directly recruited after conducting written tests for all candidates whuch shall be based on merit.It may be recalled that this recruitment written test had lapsed once (July 2016) only to be reconducted again for reasons best known to the authorities. After a gap of almost a year, call letters have been despatched to a select few without publishing marks secured on merit basis. Surprisingly,the list of selected candidates was not posted in the website until some candidates lodged their complaints. This led to sucpicions of manipulation.Moreover,when the skill test was conducted for the post of Radiographer it was done at NEIGRIHMS where almost all experts and candidates are from that very Institute. Where is the transparency in this recruitment? Secondly,to add to the woes of aspiring candidates, the NEIAH authorities did not have any external and independent experts from reputed hospitals outside the state.The manner in which the Skills-test was conducted was a sham and done in a disorderly manner when patients interrupted the candidates in between since no prior arrangement was made for the same. It is totally unfair and the Skills test lacked credilibilty as it appears that it was done just to cover up the backdoor appointments.
If such a Test is conducted at any private institute, deserving candidates may have a chance to prove themselves according to their merit. If they justify that no Radiology equipments are available at NEIAH then they could have chosen better options for the same where free and fair tests are conducted. There was no verification of documents of the candidates as directed by the Director, NEIAH in the call letters.
NGOs and other central and state agencies should keep a watchful eye, so that the aspirations of our educated unemployed youths are not shattered. Otherwise, the vision of our Prime Minister to transform India into “Saab ka saath,Saab ka Vikaas” will become a distant dream .
Yours etc;
Bilcarson Rymbai
Shillong-1
Making Shillong a No-plastic Zone
Editor,
It is a welcome sign to see that many groups and even individuals in Shillong are taking small steps to ensure that Shillong is kept clean as far as possible. Kudos to The Shillong Times for taking some steps in this direction during its Platinum Jubilee celebration this year. But we see that cleanliness is witnessed only in some small pockets which is not sufficient to ensure overall cleanliness of the city. We are still witnessing heaps of garbage being strewn around the city especially in the Iewduh, Iew Mawlong and their periphery, Harijan colony, Anjalee Cinema area, Jeep stand, the Luckier Road, Ri Bhoi Bus and Sumo stand, Jhalupara market, all along the G.S Road, Police Bazar, Laitumkhrah Market (Iew Shillong), the Polo Market and its periphery and the Rynjah market. One witnesses that the heaps of garbage consist of plastic containers like plastic bags, plastic bottles, readymade food packets and a host of other, mostly non-biodegradable articles. What a sight to behold! What is important to keep Shillong clean is to get rid of the garbage and manage it scientifically. A clarion call to this effect was called many years ago but till today nothing has happened in this direction. We keep hearing that the government will set up a garbage plant to convert garbage into manure and fuel but nothing has happened as yet. We appeal to the Government to speed up the project as soon as possible to benefit one and all. At the same time we appeal to every citizen of this city engaged in every activity not to wait for the Government to do everything but to lend a helping hand to free Shillong from the heaps of garbage and filth and especially to free Shillong from plastics. Kudos to KHADC for initiating some steps at Iewduh. Plastic is indeed a terrible menace!.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via-email.