Editor,
Desperate times require desperate measures like they say hence the lock down. And I would like to believe that for most part the public agree and would want to follow the government’s directives wholeheartedly. However does that mean we throw common sense and logical thinking out the window? Well to cite an incident that happened to me last Saturday March 28 that is exactly what it seems to be like. I stay at Lum Khyriem (a relatively new shnong) and the nearest market for us is Nongmensong market which is 4-5 kilometers more or less in distance. To my horror, I was issued a summon slip for carrying ration in my car without a pass. I tried reasoning with the constable in charge but all he said was I should get a pass from DC’s office for any vehicular movement. I think it is utter rubbish to have to produce a pass for carrying household supplies especially when it was within the stipulated timeline (around 4.30 pm) and on the day the market was made open for the very purpose.
Let’s agree for argument’s sake that we needed a pass, then does not this mean creating unnecessary crowd at the Deputy Commissioner’s office (that will be the whole of Shillong coming together by the way), the very thing that we are trying to avoid. By all means the police need to check the movement of vehicles but shouldn’t the items present –a sack of rice, vegetables, other household essentials, gas cylinder etc serve as a good enough reason to let my car pass? I must say that stopping and issuing of summon slips did not happen since morning. It only started late in the afternoon for reasons that I do not understand.
I would like to ask through this daily if this is how it is with the rest of the localities in Shillong? Is the order given from the top? If so then can someone please explain how are we supposed to carry our supplies? Should we come out in herds since the police said we should carry it physically and violate the lock down directives? Please answer!
Yours, etc.,
Ronald Bareh,
Shillong – 19
Covid19 – Time to change lifestyles
Editor,
The entire world is dealing with COVID-19 in the best possible way, be it by promulgating curfew or total lockdown or even restricting the flow of people in and out of the country, state or village. But one factor that has gone unnoticed is the presence of fresh air ( less pollution) due to the reduced number of vehicles plying on the roads. it gives us an opportunity to rethink our existing life style. Here I would like to request the State Government to please make bus services mandatory for the school children along with the staffs or otherwise put a cap on the number of vehicles for staff per school. This will enable the government to generate a huge income. Our state is already suffering a huge loss due to coal ban. It may suffer even more if the road connecting Barak Valley to Guwahati without touching Meghalaya becomes operational. Mathematically if every student pays a fee of Rs 1500 per month and if the state has a total of 1500 students then the net amount deposited in the state’s account will be roughly Rs 2,25,00,000 monthly and out of this if 25% goes towards other expenses such as salary and maintenance then also we are left with Rs 1,68,75,000 and yearly this amount becomes roughly Rs 20,25,00,000 (twenty crore twenty five lacs) . So this present Government with all the initiatives it has taken in conducting regular marathons be it for Swacch Bharat Abhiyan or Fit India Movement is with the intention of keeping its citizens healthy. Many a times articles and letters similar to this have been written but no concrete decision has been taken. So I request our present State Government to kindly take a positive step towards safeguarding nature which in return will enable its people to lead a healthy life.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request