Editor,
Apropos the news report, “Majority of non-local labourers have left State” (ST 3rd March, 2021), I would like to point out that in the past or in the present context, many construction projects, including mega buildings and roads in Meghalaya still need the help of migrant labourers or non-local workers to ensure completion and for developmental projects as a whole. But, I was shocked to learn from media reports of the sudden murderous group attack on the eight non-tribal migrant workers from South Mankachar, Assam, by some misguided miscreants which took place at night on February 24, last at Umoid St Xavier’s College in which one Raju Mondal was killed, while seven others were seriously injured. The construction workers were sleeping in the class rooms of St Xavier’s College, when they were attacked. They were on the first day of the construction project for building a four-storeyed girls’ hostel building there. Moreover, it is learned that a host of other Jesuit mega projects would be coming up in the vast campus at Umoid.
I wish to point out here that swooping down on non-tribal migrant workers who are soft targets is a regular feature in many construction sites of Meghalaya, especially in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. I suspect that the main reason for these kinds of attacks are fear of influx by illegal non-tribal migrants; fear of loss of employment opportunities which are taken over by illegal migrant labourers and migrant workers; fear of mixed marriages which is assumed will lead to influx and Islamization. In short it is socio-economic insecurity, fear of socio-cultural and socio-political upheavals and religious jealousy. These fears, whether true or false, are still lingering deep in the minds of the tribals here.
I, therefore, appeal to my fellow tribals of our state, especially the youth, to think far ahead of the times, use their God-given wisdom, exercise prudence and arrest and control our communal passions.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Shillong
Myanmar’s hour of gloom
Editor,
Continuing anti-coup protests and subsequent violence and killings of protesters in Myanmar have put pressure on the world community to act to restrain the junta which seized power by ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The strikes have badly damaged the country’s economy. The military is relentless and determined to crush the protests. Notwithstanding the death of many protesters, the military remains resolutely opposed to the demonstrations and protests. It is feared that the army will not tolerate the continuing civil disobedience campaign and it may deploy its full military strength against the protests.
As attempts to crush the protests on the streets are continuing, the coup leaders are devising plans for political reforms. The military has been developing plans over the last three years for future course of action. For them, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is the major stumbling block to their plan of action. Hence, they are making every effort to tarnish her reputation and end her political career. She is facing several trumped up charges. As she appears in court, more charges are read out. If she is convicted, she would not be able to contest elections in future. Other prominent NLD leaders are also facing many charges.
The military wants to correct some of the insufficiencies that have emerged. The army wants to get rid of the NLD. The military commanders are bent on banning NLD from politics. The military envisages a political future where the army is an important part. In order to strengthen this vision, the coup leaders are planning to change the voting system. The new system would not allow big parties to dominate elections. It would allow the military 25% of parliamentary seats to control the legislature and the selection of the executive.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam
Popularising car pooling
Editor,
The concept of car pool is quite old. Car pooling is a good practice used quite extensively outside our country and in many places in India, especially in the metropolitan cities, like Mumbai. Simply put, it is sharing of a resource by more than one person; the resource here is the vehicle, most importantly a four wheeler passenger car. Time and space is a serious challenge, especially in cities and towns, as also the costs and scarcity of these elements. Sharing of a vehicle, or simply put car pooling helps immensely. Car pooling helps us to reduce costs, as well de-congest the roads, parking spaces, etc. It also brings discipline and solidarity among citizens.
Above all, car pooling helps in reducing the number of cars on the roads, and this in itself contributes towards de-congesting traffic. Normally, even a normal four wheeler passenger car can carry four persons at a time. So, instead of four cars on the road, owned by four different persons, one car can be on the road. Normally, people living nearby or moving towards the same direction, with similar working hours of office, business, etc., can easily share and form a car pool group. All they need to do is to maintain certain decorum and self-imposed discipline. This includes timings to go and return from work, point of pick-up, rotation of vehicles to be used on different days of work. If members of the group are having vehicles of their own then communication amongst each other, etc. The group cohesiveness, mutual respect of time and sharing of resources, camaraderie, etc., are important elements. Many car pools use the time to travel for better use by sharing issues (knowledge, hobbies, etc) together. Besides, car pooling, besides de-congesting traffic, helps in reducing pollution. This needs no further elaboration.
It also immensely contributes in reduction of parking spaces in work, or business. In cities, especially, parking is a big hassle. In many places of this part of the country, people who own cars, tend to bring their individual vehicles to work. This leads to serious issues of parking of vehicles at the work place. Many times there are arguments and fights between vehicle-owners over parking space, which can be minimized by car pooling. Many office buildings built earlier and some built today still have limited parking provisions. Car pooling can help in reducing congestion. Reduction in costs to individuals for using car pools is a big plus. The costs can be reduced by as much as 75 to 80%, if judiciously done.
Other then travel to work, car pooling can also be used for shopping, leisure, entertainment, etc, among friends and families. This would not only help in reduction in costs for using cars, but also contribute to decongestion of market places, shopping complexes, etc. Car pool members can also think of having a common professional driver, which would be light on their pockets, and have multiple usages.
Offices and work places can promote and encourage car pooling by incentivising by way of marked parking place, etc. The Administration and Police can also contribute to this concept as part of community and social policing by earmarking priority parking, reduction in parking charges, etc.
Car pooling has multiple benefits for the society, and for individual citizens and also the civil administration more so in a place like Shillong or Guwahati where traffic snarls today take up a huge chunk of our time.
Yours etc.,
Ashim Bhuyan,
Via email