Editor,
Apropos the report ‘NEHU ranks 40th in Nature Index 2020’ (ST June6, 2020), I would like to give some important details on this ranking which is based on Nature Index data from January 1st 2019 to December 31, 2019. I feel that the basis of ranking adopted by the Nature Index is ambiguous and illogical. For example, their ranking is based on the publications in a few (10-12) selected journals only. Further, it is not sensible to keep an institution with less research article counts (AC) above the institution which has comparatively many more publications but less fractional count (FC) because of the number of authors. Under the Sector “Academic” North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) achieved this 40th rank. On the other hand under the Sector “All” NEHU’s rank is 51. These two facts were not disclosed in the referred news item. For the higher ranking of NEHU, based on academic performance, the credit goes to the academicians i.e. teachers and research students for their hard labour and dedication for the University. Hence the teachers with their research team truthfully deserve to be complimented. However, the mind-blowing question arises as to why the NEHU ranking is down to 51 for the same period under the Sector “All”? Does the sliding down of NEHU rank from 40 under Sector “Academic” to 51 under Sector “All” involve and reflect on the poor performance/ interest of its non-academicians i.e. officers of NEHU or something else? Readers may click on the following link to see the list of institutions under both the categories: https://www.natureindex.com/annual-tables/2020/institution/all/all/countries-India
Further, the NEHU ranking at 39 last year by National Institutional Rankings Framework (NIRF) of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), for Indian educational institutions in the university category has come down to 49 this year. It is an indication to all the stakeholders of NEHU to seriously think and take corrective measures to restore the past glory of this University.
Yours etc.,
Prof. S.B. Prasad
Member, Executive Committee,
NEHUTA (2019-20)
Glitch in online payment of electricity bills
Editor,
The electricity Bill in our locality Mawlai Mawkynroh was given to us by the Meter Reader on the June 5, 2020 and the due date for payment of the said Bill is June 19, 2020. The electricity bill can be paid at the MePDCL counters or online as we all know.
Since the June 5, 2020, I had been trying to pay the bill online through the MePDCL website but in the box where the amount is to be entered, no amount is shown. Instead an advance amount is shown. I had also tried to pay my electricity bill online through other websites but it is shown that no amount is due against my Consumer ID number.
This shows the abysmal working condition of MePDCL. As we know, online payment is meant to be fast and helpful to the customers as is the case with other online payment platforms but it’s the opposite when it comes to MEPDCL. It seems like online payment of electricity bills which should be of great help especially during this Corona Pandemic is not taken seriously by MePDCL. Through this letter, I request those involved in the online payment section and also the bosses of MePDCL to take this matter seriously.
Yours etc.,
Banriker Lyngdoh,
Via email
Wanted a fair deal
Editor,
As per the instruction of Directorate of Education Research and Training, Shillong a call was given by the Principals of DIET to receive MTET qualified certificate. Despite the papers of the MTET exam being leaked prior to the exam time in one of the centres in Tura and which must have had spread across the state, and repeated demands to re-conduct fresh exam made by the candidates it is strange that after almost one year the result has been declared without re-conducting the exam. Government should have conducted a re-examination before declaring the result. As a candidate I would like to urge the Government to conduct a re-examination in the fairness of things and there should not be any back entrance.
Yours etc.
Nivedita Saha
Phulbari,
West Garo Hills
Christian worldview
Editor,
It has been witnessed that when life-shaking events occur, whether at the personal or collective level as it is now with the Corona Virus pandemic, it has often led to a deeper questioning and re-examination of life, of meaning and purpose, and of one’s spiritual faith and grounding. A study by the University of Copenhagen reveals that the number of people Google-searching for the word ‘Prayer’ skyrocketed last month, doubling with every 80,000 new reports of the virus. It is a human reality that when confronted with challenges and uncertainties in life, we tend to look beyond ourselves to a greater/ higher reality for answers and help. Recently, the news of a public representative praying in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has sparked off a public debate as to whether faith belongs in the private or public space. Yes, in one sense, faith is very much a personal experience, a matter of one’s personal belief and spiritual journey. At the same time , however, in the Christian worldview, faith is not, and cannot be something that is exclusively lived out in the realm of the private. If it is to be truly meaningful it has to impact community and strive to bring positive and desirable changes that benefit everyone around.
Our personal experience of God should bring healing and transformation not only to our individual selves but also to the people out there. What we believe in our hearts should find expression in the way we live out in our relationship with others, and in our moral and social values. So, in this sense, there is an intersection of the private and the public. How wonderful it would be if our private faith would nudge us into working more zealously for the cause of justice, equality, integrity, love and service to mankind. Unfortunately, this is not often the case. In our desire to be politically correct, we religiously try to divorce the two, so bent on keeping our personal beliefs personal and private that we do not allow it to make an impact on the wider community even if it is for the good. Jesus, in one of His sermons, tells his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world. . . A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ” In other words, if faith is to be a lived reality, it must not be hidden but publicly voiced out and lived out, without however, forcing it on those who may hold different worldviews.
Yours etc.,
Tejdor Tiewsoh
Via email