Editor,
Well, the time for self-aggrandisement ( google defines it as an act undertaken to increase your own power and influence or to draw attention to your own self importance), chest beating, accusing your rivals of deceit and incompetence ( forgetting that they are probably doing the same to you), making grand promises that both the speaker and the listener know for a fact are fundamentally flawed and false, is once again upon us. I call it the festive season of falsehood! Political parties, their supporters and candidates themselves have once again suddenly woken up to the fact that the season for putting their best well heeled foot has once again arrived. Yes, I am speaking of election time, a period when one is supposed to give serious thoughts on issues of governance, leadership, development and prospects for the future but when instead we waste our time, vigour and energy on identifying who is the most winnable candidate or to put it in other words, who is the guy with the most amount of cash to purchase votes.
Election time is usually a time for feasts, picnics, car rallies, free food , free drinks and almost everything is on the house. Money is usually distributed as if it comes as manna from heaven. A festive air of expectations pervades the whole constituency where the election is to be held. The electorate is openly encouraged to gossip, discuss and talk about who is the most lavish of all the candidates so as to establish his credentials as the best person to serve the people of that constituency. As a voter this is my biggest grouse against all the political parties of Meghalaya – that they openly encourage the electorate to vote for the person who pleases the most rather than enlighten the electorate about the proven quality of the candidate to serve the people. The Congress, the NPP, the UDP , the BJP and all the other chutput parties who swear by the Almighty that they are here to serve the people, all of them are hypocrites. They are simply there to win; to purchase votes; to come to power and after the elections , to hell with everyone. We have seen all of this before and I challenge anyone in these bye elections to prove me wrong. May God help all of us.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
What have we become?
Editor,
The political parties have all started their jamboree of claiming they will win the bye-elections. Candidates from the young to the has-beens and the tried and tested are all doing the jumping jack flash leaving one party to join another just because they can’t get a ticket to ride (the famous Beatles song). And we are talking here of only three seats to be filled due to vacancies arising out of the death of the MLAs of those constituencies. And this is only for a period of 15 months after which the 2023 elections will be held. Sometimes these candidates think the electors are fools. If those that had jumped fences to join Party A or B fail to win this time and then fail to get tickets in 2023 which other political party will they join. And what will they peddle to the voters? It is a fact that politicians in this state have never bothered about ideology. All they care about is winning and then feathering their nests. It’s our collective foolishness that we fail to show these candidates their place.
Of course it is also true that voters care more about how much money we can pocket from each candidate. There was a time when we took money from one candidate and openly showed our support to him/her. Now we try and convince all candidates that we will vote for them and get our share of the moolah. That’s what we have become and there’s nothing shameful about that because the candidates have taught us this shamelessness. Now we are tutored to be the worst version of ourselves so it’s all squared up. Does it make any difference to our lives if candidate A or B or C wins? The poor will remain poor or destitute and the few wealthy people with political clout will continue to become wealthy. That’s our fate. We were never destined for greatness. No hill state, no rest was that war cry in the 1960’s. Now we have a hill state but many of us are striving harder than ever before. When will we see hope?
Yours etc.,
JL Nongrum,
Via email
Covid death toll
Editor,
It has been estimated that there have been around 16 million pandemic excess deaths worldwide. In other words, 16 million deaths occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic over and above what normally might be expected. It indicates that the global toll of the pandemic is more than three times the official toll of Covid-19 deaths. Experts estimate that India’s pandemic excess deaths could be a little under 3 million to around 5 million, that is, India could account for around a quarter of global pandemic deaths.
In India, around 9 million people die during normal times each year. An extra 3-5 million deaths indicate that India is one of the hardest hit countries in the world. The estimate points to the fact that India has experienced its greatest mortality since independence. Official Covid-19 deaths do not give explicit information about the grim reality of the pandemic.
However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says that some of the estimates are speculative and erroneous. According to the Ministry, missing out on deaths is unlikely. It claims that the Civil Registration System (CSR) accurately registers all births and deaths in the country. However, it must be understood that excess deaths surged and declined in proportion to Covid-19 surge and decline.
Wide disparity between official Covid-19 deaths and excess deaths brings into sharp focus overall poor surveillance of pandemic deaths. It must be understood that lack of real information about the pandemic will hinder research on pandemics, preventive measures, the government’s welfare measures and future preparations to combat diseases.
Yours etc.,
Venu G.S.,
Kollam