Editor,
“Atithidevo Bhava” a welcoming concept of treating guests is indeed a very wonderful practice that perhaps all proud Indians follow. It is, in fact, a code of conduct for most of the communities and societies in India. An interesting fact and perhaps something which we do not take heed of is that we do get guests coming from faraway lands of the world and these guests do not require any ILP, visa or passport, they just come when the nature approves of their departure and arrival. Their only approving authority is nature itself. These guests are none other than the beautiful birds. The “Aves” are naïve and beautiful creatures which we humans have never realized their significance for the well being and up-keep of the natural ecosystems of the world. Apart from the shades of colors that they carry on their lovely wings and their flesh that we humans readily want to savour, do we even know that they play a major role in sustaining the natural ecosystem?
Birds play many vital roles such as scavenging, pollination, prey population control and many others which Ecologists or Environmentalist would be able to enlighten us better. As we try to comprehend, let us ask the most important question to ourselves. Are we welcoming these naïve guests from faraway lands with a warm and hospitable heart ensuring that they get the best hospitality and care or are we chasing them away denying them of what we can really give? If we understand and are also able to appreciate what they can give back to us, the call should be on all of us. To shed more light on the denial of hospitality to the guests is that with each passing day we are depriving them of their natural habitats, be it aquatic, terrestrial or arboreal habitats. Its plainly visible to our naked eyes that the forests are getting depleted by our unsustainable activities; the water bodies are getting murkier and filled with plastics which we have recklessly dumped all over making the “Aves” altogether difficult to survive but to look for limited options elsewhere.
As we read, let us try to recollect a stereotypical statement, “Mynta ki por te ym juh iohi sim shuh”(these days we don’t see too many birds). Indeed we see lesser of them even in places where they frequented. So, the question from the statement itself can be inferred as to why are we not able to see birds as we used to earlier? Let us introspect and try to find the answer ourselves as we understand them and appreciate their values. One prime reason why we have failed to appreciate the values that the Aves have is because we were never taught or educated or even interested in learning about them. All we know is that they are just birds that fly and may be hunted down with catapults or air rifles.
This year 2020, for the first time, India witnessed an important event on migratory species – the 13th conference of parties (COP) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, with the theme- “Migratory Species connects the planet let us welcome them home.” A report on the status of India’s birds was also released. It is the first comprehensive report which depicts the distribution range, abundance and the conservation status of India’s Birds.
Yours etc.,
Maitphang Syiem,
Via email
Rebooting the economy – a pipe dream
Editor,
Apropos the news item,” Govt mulls slew of steps to reboot economy” (ST May 30, 2020), it is heartening to learn of the Chief Minister’s move for creating a conducive atmosphere to attract investment and usher in an era of, “ease of doing business.” I hope those at the helm know what they are talking about and are not just borrowing this euphemistic expression for public consumption. To my mind, the term “ease of business” will be a pipe dream, given the plethora of negativism in our minds. So what makes doing business easy? For germination of a seed, we require the right dose of air, water and right soil condition. Likewise, for industry, trade and commerce to flourish there are certain prerequisites. These include support and encouragement from government , non-interference and harassment from public, availability of land and productive manpower, good governance (a sense of security), adequate infrastructure and general acceptance that the entrepreneur has invested money not for social service but for profit-making.
Can we honestly say that all these factors are in sufficient supply in our state? For ease of business, the official impediments must be removed, so also the cobwebs in our minds. Every entrepreneur and business person knows how difficult it becomes to get works done with the government. Politicians, bureaucrats, clerks, field staff and finally the hungry NGOs kill the very idea of ease of business. At every stage, there is a price to be paid. That’s the norm today. And then there’s this killing suspicion that every business entrepreneur, more so if he is a non-tribal, is unscrupulous and manipulative.
And if for non-tribal businessmen, their plight beggar description! Firstly they need to obtain Trade Licence from the District Council. To do that they needs to kowtow before the village headman and the powerful Dorbar. Without their seal of approval nothing will move. If they can get past the first hurdle then the District Council itself will be the next mountain to climb. Some non-tribal traders tell me that despite completing all formalities, including biometrics, their Trade Licence renewal has been pending for over a year. Why on earth? What’s the issue here? If they not eligible, say so. But keeping such decisions pending beyond the scope of law doesn’t make business any easy!
When we talk of “attracting investment,” who do we have in mind? The tribals of the State? Both tribals, and non-tribals of the State? Or non-Meghalayan investors? We need to be clear in our minds.
Talking of big tribal investors, where are they? We don’t see them making waves. There is a lack of vision, maybe also lack of feeling for the brethren of the State. Then factor in the general mind set among the local people that profit has to be earned from day one. Work culture, hard work, financial discipline and business ethics are not always abundant in this state. Many enterprises have failed because the tribals tend to live beyond their means. They seem to have a false notion that every transaction is a profit earned! If after 50 years of Meghalaya, only a handful of tribal entrepreneurs have been successful then it reveals the lack of application and tenacity to endure the slow arduous route. Failed projects like MCCL, United Fruit and other tribal enterprises are a case in point.
As I see it, Meghalaya needs big time investors from outside for pumping in cash flow in the market, creating job opportunities and revenue for the exchequer. Given the depressing atmosphere, no investor in his senses would put his money here. The existing government policies, regulatory measures, lack of land and shortage of locally available employable manpower, not to speak of politico-NGO interference, are major disincentives. That leaves us with the local entrepreneurs. Now that the lockdown has brought a large number of skilled manpower back home, government needs to tap their skills and instill better work culture with an attractive package for hand- holding with all necessary incentives. If these enterprises survive in an atmosphere of healthy competition, then we will be able to proclaim that Meghalaya is a destination for ease of business.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email