Editor,
My family and I have recently recovered from Covid-19; some of us asymptomatic but some – my mother, father and our house-help – developed symptoms. My father had to be hospitalized and I was his caregiver throughout his period in hospital. I write this letter because what I witnessed in hospital will continue to haunt my father and I for a long time and we can only be grateful to the medical staff and frontline workers who fought to keep him and all the patients alive at the risk of their own lives and of their loved ones. It is difficult for me to remain silent because I owe it to the medical team to speak out and address the issue as we have witnessed how devastating this virus is and will continue to be if we do not take action as responsible citizens.
I have seen my father fight for his life in hospital – the chills, a fever of 106 and a drop in his oxygen levels. He was put on mild oxygen support twice and both times his body responded well. When my parents contracted the virus, it had been nearly a month since they received their vaccination and I truly believe that they are alive and recovering without severe complications because they had taken their vaccines on time. My father was in hospital for 14 days. He did not hesitate to go to hospital as soon as we discovered he had low oxygen levels. I cannot forget the nurses, doctors and staff who looked after him in their PPE suits all day. One night, a young nurse came in dragging a heavy X-ray machine. The machine was so heavy and at 3am she was pushing it alone, in her stuffy suit, in order to check Papa’s lungs. My heart broke because I could see how exhausted she was, both mentally and physically.
The DC’s orders for vaccination are not meant to cause harm to the public. We have already gone through and will continue to go through untold misery and loss: loss of lives, livelihoods, dignity, so much loss! Please, I urge all of us to take the vaccination process seriously and get vaccinated. I am writing with a lot of emotion and it is because I have seen my father come out alive and well after fighting this dreadful virus. There are doctors, nurses, health workers who can advise you about the vaccine and its effects. Study the statistics and you will see how beneficial it is. Let’s make informed decisions and not be afraid. We owe it to our health workers for the sacrifice they are making to keep us alive.
Yours etc.,
Lapdiang A Syiem,
Shillong-2
The controversial rice scam of Meghalaya
Editor,
We all are familiar with the story of Robin Hood who lived between the 12th to 14th century. An outlaw living in the Sherwood Forest with his ‘Merry Men’, he was known to fight for the rights of the oppressed. He robbed from the rich to give to the poor; stood up for the common man in the face of tyranny. We don’t know for sure if Robin Hood existed but as citizens we expect the government and its legislators to stand up for our rights and guard them. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
On June 13, 2021, the Assam police following a tip-off conducted a joint operation with the district administration and were able to seize one lakh bags of FCI rice from the godown of a private company in Boko. This rice, meant for the needy and our young children was being repackaged and sent to many other places including the Assam Rifles. This just shows that a chain must be in existence including officials who are likely involved in the scam. Following this, we saw various news articles related to the incident. What is intriguing are the contradicting statements between the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, James Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and the Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla.
While the first says that the government does not have a clue as to how and why this happened and blames the Food Corporation of India, the second one blames the suppliers. Surprisingly, it seems the General Manager, Food Corporation of India has clearly denied their involvement stating that their Releasing Officers (Ros) on a quarterly basis release the rice from the FCI and hand it over to the Directorate of Social Welfare and after which FCI’s responsibility is over. If so, the buck stops at the door of the Minister for Social Welfare, Kyrmen Shylla, including the officials of the Social Welfare Department.
How can one lakh kgs of rice just disappear into thin air with neither the Social Welfare Department nor the Social Welfare Minister having a clue about its disappearance or the fact that such illegalities and scams are taking place? Or are they somehow also involved in this? As many know, controversial scams cannot happen without the involvement of officials of various government departments. It is therefore incumbent upon the Social Welfare Minister to give us clarity into this alleged scam.
There is also news doing the rounds that the rice seized from Deepak Agarwal reveals the constant corruption involved in the implementation of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme under the Department of Social Welfare. Agarwal is the owner of the godown where the rice was repacked into East Sunrise brand, a part of the Continental Milkose company, the same company that the Directorate of Social Welfare allocates rice to, which then gets supplied under the SNP. Continental Milkose is a company that also seems to have been involved or rather linked to quite a few scams like the Bal Vikas Seva Aur Pushtahar in Uttar Pradesh, selling of expired baby products in Kochi, substandard quality of ICDS food to Anganwadi Centres in Imphal among others.
This only makes me wonder why the Directorate of Social Welfare does not do its research? How can a controversial and tainted company involved in many a worrying scam be allocated rice and cereals meant to be supplied to the weaker sections of society, especially under a nutrition programme which feeds young children and mothers? As a concerned citizen, I would urge the Chief Minister to conduct a thorough enquiry into this matter and even put to question the Social Welfare Department that is responsible for this. It is also time for various civil society organizations to demand a proper investigation into this matter. The Social Welfare Minister cannot feign ignorance. I would also appeal to the likes of Jemino Mawthoh who has been very vocal on many issues to seek clarity and also question his party colleague and Ms Angela Rangad to file an RTI into this matter which is of grave concern. Then only will the matter come to light.
Yours etc.,
Andrea Syiemlieh
Shillong –22
Power cut pandemic
Editor,
Meghalaya’s Power Minister had recently assured that there will be uninterrupted power supply. But the MEPDCL has been indulging in frequent power cuts, almost daily for lengthy periods running into a few hours. It is not understood as to why the tax payers are being harassed without assigning any reasons for power snapping. Will the Power Department along with higher-ups give reasons why this is happening and will they take steps to stop this harassment to the citizens? Proper action must be taken to ameliorate this “Pandemic” of power cuts.
Yours etc.,
S.L. Singhania
President,Police Bazar Welfare Society
Via email