Editor,
Apropos the plight of students during the current pandemic, I would like to share my views regarding what I feel is injustice towards the student community. I take this opportunity through your esteemed newspaper to highlight the problem with a view to bringing it to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
I am a student currently studying in Class XI in the Science stream in one of the schools in Shillong. Among the scores of activities hampered by the Covid-19 Pandemic, the timelines for schools, colleges and examinations in particular have been severely affected. During the height of the pandemic, students were at a total loss as schools were barely functional, even with the shadow of education known as online classes. The SSLC Examinations had to be conducted very late and therefore our results too were delayed. After the declaration of results, everything was done in such a great hurry that it was nothing short of chaos. Before we knew it, we were in school again, albeit attending online classes. Thankfully, we have reverted back to (somewhat) regular classes for the past two months or so.
The MBOSE has already given directions that nothing will be reduced from the syllabus. All schools have been directed to conduct our final practical examinations in December 2021 and our theory examinations in February 2022. Basically, we have been directed to complete a syllabus meant for no less than seven to eight months, in a time span of a little over two and a half months before our practical examinations. Calling this work-load a burden is too mild a term.
I am certain that I speak on behalf of all students when I vehemently implore the Government to rethink the stand of MBOSE on this matter and take some concrete action.
I do not know what will be the outcomes of this letter, but through the medium of your esteemed daily, I appeal to the Government to look into this matter and come out with a solution. We are just students who are trying to navigate this tricky part of the great ocean of life and the Government seems hell bent on sending us out on a voyage with only a spoon to row the boat.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Disapproving Mamata Banerjee’s Rome trip
Editor,
It’s indeed most gratifying to know that the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has of late been invited to participate in the World Peace Conference held in Italy from October 6-7. This auspicious conference was attended by prominent personalities of the status of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the German iconic leader Angela Merkel and a host of the religious leaders like the Imam of Al-Azhar (Egypt) Ahmad al-Tayyib, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and other religious figureheads. The event was to be centered on Mother Theresa.
Ms. Banerjee as a law abiding citizen had therefore duly applied to the Union Ministry of External affairs for endorsement to undertake this trip but the latter had flatly refused citing that it was not commensurate in status for participation by a Chief Minister of a state. Thus, India was deprived of a notable representative in such an auspicious conference in which Christianity was represented by Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch while the Muslim faith is symbolized by the presence of Ahmad al Tayyib, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al-Alzhar. The assemblage could ‘ve offered a level playing field for Ms Banerjee to ably interpret the essence of Hinduism and its myriad positive ethos in its true perspective.
It therefore beats me why Modi as the Prime Minister of India and the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat who uphold the concept of Hindu ideology world-wide were not solicited in the said conference. The management of this religious conclave had invited Ms. Banerjee and lauded her “significant election victory and the important work for social justice, for the development of your own country and for peace, which you have been doing for over 10 (ten) years now”. All said and done, the fact behind the non-granting permission to Ms. Banerjee is for all to read between the lines.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K. Diengdoh,
Via email
Show sympathy for the poor
Editor,
The news allowing markets to open on Sundays has come as a big relief especially for the weaker section of people, including small traders, who have suffered a lot during the lockdown. They will now hopefully earn a little more. But one small businesswoman having a kwai kiosk at Mawbah quipped, “The shop we opened in the morning was ordered by the patrolling police to shut down immediately. We are very confused and worried. Government should have been more concerned for the poor people like us than the big shops in the market.” Of course, the poor woman is logically right. Vendors, daily wagers, small traders have been badly affected by the long COVID lockdown. Hope the government will be more sympathetic towards the weaker section of people.
Incidentally, when we go around the marketplace the situation is very scary. Almost 80% of people are not wearing masks which they just hang around their necks. Some are completely without any face cover. Almost none is bothered about keeping physical distance. This is a matter of serious concern. The government must take immediate steps. Though the majority of the population in the state has already been inoculated, we never know when the third/fourth wave or virus of other variants might attack us again. I think the Police Department should not allow people to let their guards down so early. People only fear the police danda.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong