Editor,
Apropos the letter by Jenniefer Dkhar, ‘Angels of mercy’ (ST May 4, 2021), it is wonderful that our brothers and sisters from the Sikh community have come forward to offer an ‘Oxygen langar’ in case of need. They have shown that religion is not only about praying and worshiping God but it is also about offering physical help to the sick and the suffering no matter what denomination they belong to. As a so called Christian state I thought by now we would have seen something solid being offered by many church organisations to fight this pandemic. Isn’t it about time for the churches to come forward to contribute physically to the fight in whatever way they can? Churches are, of course, offering spiritual help but spiritual help compounded with physical help is uplifting and is a powerful medicine. This is an appropriate time to offer such solace where it is needed. Come on Church leaders, follow that line in the hymn, ‘Onward Christian soldiers’.
Yours etc.,
D.M. Pariat,
Shillong.
Nepotism – the executioner of deserving minds.
Editor,
American Novelist, Toni Morrison had once said, “Everybody gets everything handed to them. The rich inherit it. I don’t mean just inheritance of money. I mean what people take for granted among the middle and upper classes, which is nepotism, the old-boy’s network.” Nepotism can fairly be described as an act of using power or influence to get unfair advantages for members of one’s family, or an acquaintance. This is prevalent across societies. It is prevalent especially in India. No matter how qualified and eligible a person is, if they do not have a link to anyone influential, they will lose out on an opportunity. It is a pity that someone talented and hard-working tries to fit in and be ‘self-made’ but lags behind only because he/she does not possess the clout of being connected to a high ranking or influential person.
This system leaves the youth demotivated and in turn to an increased risk of mental health issues such as depression, trauma and even unwanted thoughts. In Meghalaya, the subject of nepotism is not new. Favoritism and bias have been in existence for a long time in our State and especially in government departments where people are appointed through “backdoor entry.”
Let us take the infamous case of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL). I came across a report about favoritism and nepotism in the MeECL where a junior engineer has been vested with special powers exceeding that of the Chief Engineer and has also been appointed as the nodal officer for implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). This has irked the other employees of the Corporation who believe that such duties and responsibilities have been the remit of the Chief Engineer and his team. The MeECL is not the only department with such malpractices. There are many other government departments in our State which practice this culture of nepotism.
The Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) too has been another institution that practices nepotism which people have time and again spoken out against. Thousands of candidates that have applied for various vacant positions against advertisements published by the MPSC, have not been able to qualify. They are given umpteen reasons for not being qualified enough. But to what extent are those reasons true? Meghalaya Government must not frustrate the youth especially those that are hard working and deserving. To cast them aside in favour of the less deserving is a crime and injustice.
Yours etc.,
Jordan Diengdoh
Shillong – 2
Our fight to tackle Covid spread
Editor,
The night curfew recently imposed in the Shillong Urban Agglomeration is a good step taken by the State government to flatten the curve of COVID infection. In tough times, the Government’s constant effort to tackle the crisis in infrastructure, staff and other resources related to treating the disease deserves praise. The private hospitals, the Sikh community and various organizations gearing up in their tireless effort towards service to humanity is indeed praiseworthy.
However, apart from the selfless service rendered by various sections and the vaccination drives carried out by the Government, the awareness of the public and their adherence to SOP ( Standard Operating Procedure) is the need of the hour to control the spread of the virus. Our society must constantly appreciate the frontline and the healthcare workers for their dedicated work as their tireless fight in these challenging times leads to a better tomorrow. It is a request to the Government of Meghalaya to consider Journalists as frontline workers and give them all the benefits under the category. We must maintain a proper diet and spend quality time with our near and dear ones so that no one goes into a state of social isolation. Educational institutions, and institutions adopting to work from home measures, must not lower the spirits of their students and employees because of digital divide. The state must seek active support from the Centre in combating the disease.
Yours etc.,
Partha Pratim Duarah
Nazira (Assam)
Open the gateway to knowledge
Editor,
A week ago I was confronted by a paradox in the market. On one hand was a crowd jostling in front of a wine store and on the other a woman standing near a bookstall that was shut. On enquiring she said she was looking for a Physics book for her daughter appearing for Class 12 exams. I noticed her distress on not finding the book. Seeing the rush at the wine store while a bookstore remained shut must have made the lady distraught. The thought that might have crossed her mind is – why are there no restrictions on wine stores while bookstalls are shut. Something is amiss as far as “setting priorities,” is concerned.
All academic achievement, developmental activities and modern advancements happened because our ancestors and us read and learned about great inventors and discoverers. Today our children depend entirely on educational institutions and prescribed textbooks. But COVID-19 has forced all schools/colleges to shut their doors for over a year. Should we now “deprive” our kids of textbooks as well? Government needs to be more pragmatic. Nothing can be worse for our school-going children than to be idle at home for extended periods and without books. They will either while away their time playing addictive games or watch frivolous entertainment programs on TV which may affect their tender minds.
If the government can allow hardware shops to open during the containment period why can’t they allow bookstalls as well to remain open to cater to the needs of students – of course, under strict enforcement of Covid norms. This will doubtless keep our children off many “harmful indulgences.”
Moreover, why do we have to limit ourselves to construction of new concert halls, roads etc., to accelerate urbanization for development? What is more important is for the government to work out policies that enable our children to “construct” creative ideas and improve their “mental ecology”. For a better tomorrow, we need to educate children in every possible way. The Government and parents have to ensure that the lockdown isolation is not adversely affecting the mental health of our kids. Idleness could push them to wrong habits due to peer pressure. Why don’t we think of these eventualities? Are the increasing cases of “drug addiction” and alcoholism among our youths not paramount challenges for the state?
The quote by American journalist Margaret Fuller, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader,” aptly explains how great readers emerge as great figures for the future. If our authorities at the helm, hark back to their past, they too would recall how some books have influenced them. They must have invested time to read books and gain knowledge because of which hold important positions today. To my mind, books are as essential as food to our body. They alone can effectively nourish the minds of our children. Interesting anecdotes of Einstein, Edison and Pascale forgoing their food but not their books should encourage us to open the doors of bookstores 24×7 for a better tomorrow. Only good books and sports can lure children away from bad habits.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong