SHILLONG: The year 2019 had begun in the state the way it is poised to end vis a vis the new citizenship law—widespread protest and violence. The Union government with brute majority in Parliament finally had its way and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was legislated as Citizenship (Amendment) Act riding roughshod over protests and bodies.
As the state awaits the dawn of a new year though, there is hope of opening up of a new horizon of love, compassion, security and happiness for the people of Meghalaya.
Member of the KHADC, Paul Lyngdoh, while sharing his views said that 2019 has been a year of tumult and upheavals globally and Meghalaya has seen its share of both and the state continues to be a laggard on all vital fronts of development, and is ranked among the slow coaches even when compared to Mizoram and Arunachal.
“CAA, NRC and the ILP are bound to dominate the political discourse in the new year. I foresee major challenges ahead. It is a defining moment for Meghalaya as it attempts to push its agenda forward in an increasingly hostile environment and a class of elected representatives whose quality has been badly compromised,” Lyngdoh said.
Former Home Minister RG Lyngdoh said that 2019 was a mixed bag and as far as governance and administration is concerned, there were high expectations but it turned out to be a damp squib.
He also hoped to see more matured pressure groups in the state in 2020 in their way of approaching an agitation so that their credibility remains intact and anti- social elements don’t take advantage of the situation.
“With Assembly elections slated for 2023, the government now must pull up its socks,” he said. Former IAS officer and social activist, Toki Blah, said that 2019 was a year of hopes, but ended with a lot of disappointment and the New Year too does not seem to hold much promise. “With so many problem, where the country is heading is a big concern,” he said. Referring to Meghalaya, he said that there is total collapse of governance.
Veteran politician Bindo M Lanong said that the law and order situation in the state was quite satisfactory than the previous years even as he added that the government must address the issues of poor mobile connectivity and traffic challenges in the city.
He also said that in last few years, many people have gone missing and there seems to be some organised racket which working in the city.
Dr Ananya S Guha, former director IGNOU, Shillong said that 2019 showed no significant strides in anything except for the young differently-abled lady from the state receiving a national award for professional services.
“This has largely gone unnoticed and should have been highlighted more. This shows how people here can work against all odds and can match the zeal of anyone else. Governance has been routine and we have no developmental figures,” Guha said.
He added that the CAB issue has exposed insecurity of small communities and issues like unemployment must be seriously addressed.
“2020 can be better if there is job creation and the government takes the youth and all stakeholders into confidence regarding developmental issues. All unrest stems from economic backwardness and this must be forthrightly addressed. Hope 2020 will bring hope in areas of social and economic development. Education must be a priority,” he said.
Carmo Noronha, executive director of Bethany Society, too reiterated that the year 2019 started with a great hope but at the end it had to bear the brunt of the controversy surrounding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
He, however, said that in 2020, the government must do something about education and livelihood of people and Meghalaya should be a story of hope.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that in 2019, there were lot of troubles and many women were killed and illegal activities such as coal mining continued in the state.
She hoped that in the New Year, people would speak against atrocities and illegal activities as they are stakeholders.
She also prayed for a safe, secure and peaceful state.
Former President of Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers Association, ED Nongsiag, said that the year 2019 was not up to the expectations due to protests and there was nothing much for the teaching community.
In the new year, he said that the Khasi Jaintia Retired Deficit School Teachers Association would follow up the issue of retirement benefits for the teachers with the government.
John F Kharshiing, Chairman of Federation of Khasi States, said, “I am not chief minister hence can only hope that the chief minister and MDA coalition would take the issue of resolving the IOA & AA in right earnest as it is connected and interlinked with defining the traditional institutions their role functions and responsibilities in legislative, executive and administrative duties. ”
“The lack of this clear definition has caused a huge loss to the citizens in terms of village, city, Shnong, Raid and Hima planning, the inter-state and international border disputes, the continued huge leakage of revenue due to continued conflict between central Indian legislation and treaty rights of the Khasi States (IOA &AA),” Kharshiing added.
