Editor,
We do not see any need for an Article 371 of the Constitution of India because; Constitutional recognition has already been accorded as witnessed by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. What is needed is purposeful action by the creatures of the Schedule. The creatures are the bodies – District Councils – empowered by it to do so. The District Councils of Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills Districts have so far failed to do their work: so, it is these creatures of the Schedule that we should look at for consolidating what the Constitution has recognized.
Except in Tripura, the political power in NER States appears to be in the hands of indigenous people though still tenuous – just tenuous! It should be firm and unambiguous. What makes it ambiguous and tenuous (in the Sixth Schedule areas) is the frequent meddling to amend the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
The NER leaders (in Scheduled-area States) should religiously follow the trend of amendments.
Yours etc.,
Morning Star Sumer,
Shillong – 2
Hike in taxi fares
Editor,
As a concerned citizen I would like to question the price hike in taxi fares from Bishnupur to Police Bazar, Sani Mandir and vice versa. It has caused a lot of inconvenience to college students and common people alike as they have to put up with the taxi drivers who arbitrarily charge different rates willfully. I would like to question the Transport Department if the taxi drivers have got the permission to raise the taxi fares or this a decision of the drivers themselves. A notification should have been given in the newspaper for hiking the fares so that the public (especially students) are aware of the situation.
When asked about the price hike the taxi drivers would give an answer that fuel prices have increased so the taxi fares have to be increased. It is such a non-sensible answer. The taxi drivers should have consulted the government on this issue and certain rules and regulations should be framed by the government about how frequently the taxi fares need to be increased. As a citizen I would like the government to take note of this, so that it does not affect the public. I request the Transport Department to kindly take up the matter seriously and solve the issue as soon as possible.
Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen
Via email
Climate change hits hard!
Editor,
More disturbing news about climate change is coming out to warn the world especially countries that have coastlines. According to a study that gives new estimates on the impact of rising sea levels, India’s financial capital Mumbai, one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world is at risk of being submerged by 2050. There are a lot of other cities and towns too which will have the same fate of Mumbai.
Sea level rise is due to heat-trapping pollution from human activities, which causes ice sheets and glaciers to melt, increasing the volume of water in the oceans. As a result of this, sea levels could rise between 2 and 7 feet during the 21st century. Asia is the most affected continent in terms of population. In the decades ahead, sea-level could disrupt economies and trigger humanitarian crises around the world. Indonesia is already experiencing the effects of increased flooding. The government recently announced plans to move the capital city from Jakarta to Borneo. Unfortunately, Jakarta is the fastest sinking city in the world.
In another major natural phenomenal development over the Arabian Sea, two cyclones named Kyaar and Maha were formed simultaneously and could result in natural calamities on the Indian subcontinent. According to an IMD bulletin, the cyclone around 270 km west of Thiruvnanthapuram, 300 km southeast of Kavaratti island in the Lakshadweep and 150 km north-north east of Minicoy is likely to move northwest across the Lakshdweep. Very severe cyclonic storm and torrential rains have been forecast by the IMD. How cruel the cyclone would be known only when it hits the land. So, all these unprecedented natural phenomena have been the aftermath of the onslaught on the environment. Government and people must be more nature-friendly, practical-oriented and down-to-earth in giving due importance to the upkeep of the nature.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email
Easy financial transactions
Editor,
The Department of Posts has launched an app based mobile banking services through the facility of IPPB Banking. The IPPB through a simple KYC registration allows a customer to link its existing savings account with the mobile account to enjoy seamless mobile banking facilities. The mobile banking app otherwise provides excellent facilities through fund transfers to send and receive money apart from the facility of remittances, view balance options etc.
Further the banking and fintech payment industry has emerged successful with innovations including the recent Unified Payments Interface(UPI) and empowers for a cashless business environment. UPI enables seamless banking and money transfers between users through the facility of a unique VPA assigned to every registered user on the mobile app. The VPA authentication enables fund transfers enabled through NPCI backed gateway and thus acts as a quick and secure interface to an account linked interface to transfer money, without the hassle of manual banking transactions.
AS UPI now has signed with many Payment System Players (PSP) along with Issuer banks to enable VPA based transactions that also included almost all of the leading banking institutions with the exception of IPPB. It is given to understand that a user registered under IPPB’s mobile banking app cannot enjoy the benefits of sending and receiving money through UPI link. A registered user cannot link his IPPB account with any of the UPI options and hence there is now an urgent necessity for the Department of Posts to enable option for its users.
A UPI linked IPPB account will otherwise enable customers to enjoy seamless banking with the facility of easy fund transfers linked to its IPPB account. In an era of technological revolution, there is an urgent need for the Department of Posts to stay abreast of such changes and thus is suggested to tie up with UPI as both PSP and Issuer bank, to otherwise provide hassle free mobile banking facilities to its customers
Yours etc.,
Varun Dambal,
Via email