Editor,
Much has been said about the load shedding in the State. In fact, it has now become the ‘talk of the town’. But has anyone ever thought or put forward a question as to how did it all begin? Why is Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited so much in debt? Why does it owe certain amounts of money to different discoms?
It is our tendency as humans to make our own judgements. More so, we tend to blame or hold people accountable for mistakes or errors gone wrong in the past – either committed by somebody or ‘something’. Similar is the case with the MeECL.
We have heard a great deal of negative criticism in the last few days of the Budget Session in the Assembly where several questions were raised in particular with regards to the load shedding. Indeed, load shedding is a pain and it causes difficulties in our daily lives. Much of our work depends on electricity. They range from a variety of daily tasks whether at home or in the office. But, have we ever wondered why this happens? We blame the current functioning of the MeECL, both authorities as well as the Power Minister. But is that right? Have we forgotten the realities of what went down with the previous governments especially the Congress government? As far as my memory goes, we faced hours of load shedding in the past decade when the Congress-led government was in power. The signing of the NTPC agreement which now has to be paid for the next 23 years amounting to Rs 3036 crore (11 crore per month), crores of rupees owed to the discoms and power generating companies etc., were all executed under the Congress-led government. This predicament is now being handled by the present MDA government which is doing nothing but cleaning up the mess created by the then Power Minister, Mukul Sangma and his government when it was in power. Such things aren’t easy to be dealt with. But the present government is trying its best to grapple with the situation and make amends for what has gone wrong.
People joining the chorus of boos, throwing dirt and questioning the present government should be thinking twice, questioning what it is that went wrong in the past for which the Power Department is now suffering or rather is crippled. As enlightened citizens of the State we should not just be blown about by the wind but need to reason and think logically and ask the right questions to the right quarters and ask why something is the way it is. Sometimes the answer is right there so we simply cannot feign ignorance.
Yours etc.,
Natasha Pariat,
Shillong – 3
Cleaning Shillong
Editor,
I write to support the proposals expounded by Toki Blah in his article ‘Cleaning Shillong’s rivers ‘ (ST March 10, 2021), which are workable and sustainable, and need to be implemented immediately. These may also be extended for keeping Iewduh and Khyndailad clean. People may be employed to remove the waste materials periodically throughout the day, to be financed by the shopkeepers and vendors. At the household level, we must take the responsibility of keeping our neighborhood clean throughout the year. This responsibility should include the drains, for that’s where the waste ends up. We shall take the responsibility of segregating the waste, but we must not be made to stand on the road every morning, waiting to hand over the garbage to the truck. We may be allowed to leave the bags in front of our homes, tied with distinguishing string, say green and blue.
Yours etc.,
S Ahmed
Shillong 1
Report unethical behaviour
Editor,
Apropos the letter titled, “Mental harassment at workplace“ (ST 10 March, 2021), I must commend the author’s courage for calling out the unprofessional conduct of the Head of Department in question. Such behaviour on the part of such a senior official to lead astray the staff of the department from their daily duties is highly uncalled for. No wonder the government departments under such leadership earn a bad name and reputation for themselves. What is even more appalling is the allegation by the author that the said Head of Department resorts to racial slurs and abuses and even to the extent of withholding the disbursement of salary if lunch is not prepared in the office!
I request the author of the letter not to be scared at all. Many in the civil society are ready to fight their cause at this terrible evil going on in the office. If the author is afraid of revealing their identity it’s perfectly alright. But please write an anonymous representation against this errant senior official of the government to the Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya and to the Addl. CS/Principal Secretary/Commissioner and Secretary who is the overall in charge of the Department. Please also send a copy to the Meghalaya Lokayukta and also send an anonymous petition addressed to the Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya. Do not be afraid. If need be, even send a petition to the PMO. Let’s see for how long this senior official continues in this evidently unprecedented behaviour.
Yours etc
Jeremiah S
Via email
On vaccine diplomacy
Editor,
The competition between India and China to provide vaccines to more countries has risen to a pitch with ways to ramp up delivery of doses to developing countries becoming an important item on the agenda of the first Quad leaders’ summit. India has realised that it is facing fierce competition from China in vaccine diplomacy. Hence it is planning to ramp up vaccine production to counter China. India and China have donated millions of doses to many countries. However, China has no publicly available official data on vaccine supplies when compared with that of India. India has urged the US, Japan and Australia to invest in its vaccine production capacity. The Quad countries will devise plans to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity in India. Indian manufacturers have a combined capacity of billions of doses.
China has distributed vaccines to many countries. However, the reluctance of China’s Pharmaceutical companies to share details of their trials raises doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccines. In fact, more than a dozen vaccines developed in China are in clinical trials with about half of them in phase III trials. As a matter of fact, only one Chinese vaccine has received emergency approval so far. News reports from many countries show that people in those countries are clamouring for Indian vaccines.
India’s vaccine efforts need to be seen in the correct perspective. India has a track record of mass production of very important drugs. India has provided anti-AIDS drugs to African countries. Similarly India has provided different medicines to countries in times of health crisis. So it can be reasonably assumed that India’s vaccine distribution is not completely in the context of competition with China.
This is an opportunity for Quad to prove that it cannot only deliver on security issues but also on critical issues like healthcare. As India has financial constraints, the other members of the Quad need to make concerted efforts to help India ramp up vaccine production. In this way they can prove their credentials as a significant power in crisis management.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS
Kollam -78