Editor,
Through the columns of your newspaper, I wish to draw attention to the problems encountered by students like myself because of the ongoing unscheduled load shedding.
The notice on load shedding has caused anxiety and stress in students like me who are preparing for the final semester exams. Electricity is unquestionably needed, since we have to rely on online reading materials for our preparation as it is impossible to have physical, access to libraries. Adding to our stress is the frequent unscheduled power cuts during the day without notice. With the exams being held online, electricity would be one of the essential elements needed to successfully complete the exams.
The load shedding had already in the past months affected students badly when it disrupted our online classes. As we have all witnessed the stark digital divide being exposed like it’s never been before, having power cuts only aggravated our pain and suffering. The problems faced concern not only students in East Khasi Hills District but span across other districts of the state. In fact they must be facing more severe power cuts than East Khasi Hills or Shillong in particular.
While we are aiming for the stars and climbing mountains to reach the top, the load shedding we experience during exams and especially when the world is going digital is a huge dampener. This is no way to treat students who are most affected by the disruption of regular classes and who are compelled to attend online classes. I request the MeECL to lift the load shedding completely during exams. However, if there is dire need to go for load shedding then MeECL should give 10-days advanced notice so that we can make alternative arrangements and do not miss out on the exams.
Yours etc.,
Phindakershisha R Syiem
Lady Shri Ram College For Women,
New Delhi.
Defaulting Returnees.
Editor,
There is a belief, with ample circumstantial evidence to back up such a conviction, that the spike of Covid cases that Shillong City is currently facing is mainly due to defaulting returnees. These are residents of Meghalaya who have returned from Covid infected areas but who for reasons best known to themselves, think it is smart and cool to hoodwink the administration in its effort to confirm their Covid status. They give false information relating to their personal data at the Umling Covid check point; false phone numbers, false addresses or simply by-pass the check point. They manage to do this because of the huge work pressure faced by the registering officials at the check point. They think it is chic to hoodwink the authorities little realising it is the most stupid and dangerous thing they could ever do in their miserable lives. By this act the dimwits become super spreaders placing the lives of their own family members, friends and society at large in uncalled for danger.
It is clear that the workload at Umling Covid check point has made the registration of new arrivals into Meghalaya unsound and untenable. Persons with dubious intent safely slip through the cracks. The system has become unsustainable. We need to adopt a second fall back system that should make the checking process foolproof and in the process safeguard ourselves and society from the fear of Covid spread. I believe this can be done.
All returnees return to a permanent address located somewhere in some shnong or the other in Shillong or Meghalaya. Their absence or arrival at the shnong is known to the Dorbar and the Rangbah Shnong. Dorbars should once again be re-activated to report to the authorities the fresh arrival of any returnee to the shnong. District officials together with Dorbar authorities can then verify the Covid documentation of each returnee and find out if proper registration has been complied with or not. Defaulters can easily be identified, caught and accordingly dealt with, which I sincerely hope will be severe and befitting their crime.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Mass vaccination the need of the hour
Editor,
Looking at the appalling situation where thousands of people are gasping for oxygen in Delhi, an effective and safe vaccination campaign is urgently needed to halt the rapid spread of Covid19 in our state. We should take the example of Israel which as early as in December 2020 launched a national Covid19 vaccination campaign in which BNT162b2 (developed by the BioNTech in cooperation with Pfizer) were administered. This national vaccine campaign has led Israel to having one of the highest rates of vaccinated individuals per capita, with 48.8%, 34% and 7.5% of the population having received the first or the second vaccine dose and having recovered from COVID-19, respectively, as of 24 February 2021, or 68.7%, 48% and 8% respectively, taking into account population older than 16 years – the population currently eligible for vaccination. The study reported an efficacy of 51% for the first dose after 13-24 days, whereas the second reported an efficacy of 46% and 92% after 14-24 days from first dose and 7 or more days from the second dose of the vaccine, respectively. This study reported that vaccine effectiveness is above 95% after the second dose.
Hence Covid19 vaccinations alone are the most promising preventive measure to mitigate the spread of the devastating pandemic. We should not pay heed to hearsay doing the rounds on social media which says that Covid vaccine does not protect us from the new Covid variant. These are just conspiracy theories which try to induce mass paranoia. Let’s fight this battle together by getting ourselves and our loved ones vaccinated.
Yours etc.,
Lurshai Kharbani,
Via email
On acquiring birth/death certificate
Editor,
When a birth or death takes place in Shillong, the family member is required to obtain the signature of the Rangbah Shnong (headman) in order to get the certificate issued by a government agency including NEIGHRIMS. As has been experienced by many, harassment is meted out while trying to obtain the signature of the Rangbah Shnong, especially if one is a non-tribal resident of Shillong. An incidence of birth or death in a family may not be known even to the Rangbah Dong, who stays within the locality, leave aside the Rangbah Shnong, who generally resides in another locality. When a birth or death happens it is already certified by the hospital authorities hence the additional requirement of obtaining the signature of Rangbah Shnong needs to be done away with to simplify the process. The records are in any case kept by the issuing authority. I request the Government to kindly review the system and simplify the process to avoid undue harassment to the non-tribal residents of Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Tamal Bhattacharjee
Shillong- 4