Editor,
Northeast Edit wishes to issue a clarification to the article “A Space to Express” that was published in the Shillong Times on 25th April 2021 [Online edition 24th April 2021] Northeast Edit is a part gallery, a part journal, and a part creative collective situated in Shillong, but with a global reach and outlook. It exists to present artists from the Northeast to the world.
Our focus is primarily contemporary art and design from the Northeast, and stories connected to the same. We do not have plans to document folklore. Others are already working in this space.
It has two Co-Founders, namely Priti Rao and Samya Deb who both come from creative backgrounds and have previously worked together on community-driven initiatives across India and the world.
Aaron Ian Lyngdoh is a part-time employee of the gallery working in the capacity of a host, stylist and gallery manager.
The group ‘Khasi Bloodz’ has been erroneously misspelt in the article as ‘Khasi Blooz’.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Priti Rao
Co-Founder, Northeast Edit
Via email
Price rise of essential commodities
Editor,
The pandemic health crisis should not push the prices of essential commodities sky high but this unethical trend usually happens when misfortune strikes. Soon after the emergency alarm button of the second Covid wave was set off certain traders dealing in essential commodities in the state have started raise the prices of essential grocery items. A local resident complained that he was charged Rs 22 for a kg of potato on Friday for which he had paid Rs 15 just five days ago. Why is there so much price escalation suddenly? How will the poor people feed manage their households? Another person said his son working in Bangalore has returned home and is without a job for the last seven months. While this virulent Covid-19 has affected everyone, it has brought untold miseries to the poorest of the poor. I therefore earnestly request the Deputy Commissioners of each district in the state to take the concern of price-rise with utmost seriousness.
The Government may consider constituting a committee that will take immediate steps towards checking the opportunistic price hikes. Strict measures must be put in place to prevent any possible hoarding and black marketing of essential goods in the wholesale markets. Pasting the correct price list of the food grains and other essential items should be made mandatory. The regular smooth inflow of essential goods from Assam must also be ensured by the administrative agencies. No citizen should fall prey to unscrupulous traders. One’s “misfortune” should not be an opportunity for the other to make hay from. In fact, such thinking itself is a serious sin. Let the right-thinking people come together to work towards mitigating the hardships faced by our poor fellow citizens. They now need our help and support more than ever.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Efficiency and productivity
The sudden rise of Covid cases in the state and in particular Shillong is major cause of worry even while many are predicting a worse case scenario. In spite of the hurdles and the difficulties being experienced it is noteworthy that a section of officers and mid-level staff are doing their best behind the scenes which only few know. God alone sees their good work in this time of human crisis. It is also worth mentioning that the proactive approach of the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills who has been coordinating all along with her team to understand, resolve and find solutions to the problems faced by daily wagers, shop keepers, transporters etc., and sometimes up to the last mile, is commendable. If the State Government authorities in the CMO and various other heads of departments are proactive we can all overcome the hurdles and this is where we need to appreciate their efforts irrespective of their rank and position.
Yours etc..
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Shillong:
‘Writing on the Wall’: When will India learn?
Editor
Steering the ship does not come easily when the alarm bells start ringing all around. Four months ago the success story of India’s COVID management baffled experts and statisticians but here we are back to square one and we have ignored the ‘Writing on the Wall’ (the second wave). From super-spreader events such as the farmer’s protests to election rallies and now the oxygen crisis the top rung of the BJP and their cohorts have failed miserably. Nations such as the UK under the leadership of Boris Johnson and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi are power hungry and self-centred in promoting their own agenda.
Where does the public run to then when the kitchen is on fire? In 2005, Dr Michael Osterholm, a prominent American epidemiologist, alerted Congress to the real danger of a pandemic that would stress health care systems, kill millions and devastate the global economy. But Cassandras are always ignored!
The Meghalaya government is sailing in a different direction and the lessons last year are long forgotten. When the caseload was minimal the screws should have been tightened but the party leadership (ADC) considered the elections in Garo Hills to be more important than public health safety or adhering to SOPs.
The underlying issue is the lack of concern in areas of education and health care for the last two decades and successive governments have simply played the blame game but have not shouldered the responsibility for their failures. The book ‘Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters’ by Chesley B. Sullenberger is what policymakers should delve into and learn how an effective team with dedication towards safety can create miracles.
The lessons of this pandemic can be traced to smaller nations such as Australia and New Zealand who carefully executed tactics to not only flatten the curve but prevent more waves, the answer lies in an open, mature society which elects robust leaders who will understand the pulse of the people.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10