Editor,
We all know the role played by the South Shillong Assembly Constituency, MLA, Sanbor Shullai in shifting the gate erected by 58 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) at Mawshbuit village to another location for ease of movement of the people of that village. We are all aware too that the Pine Walk gate is under lock and key for more than a year, after the city came under lockdown due to Covid. This is causing major inconveniences to the public. This is an important thoroughfare to move between the town’s commercial hub, Police Bazar and localities in Greater Laban and other adjoining villages. Not only does a shortcut pass through the Cantonment area but the Pine Walk lane is actually a panacea for the residents of the town in the horrible traffic mess that grips the town every single day. Locking the Pine Walk gate is another show of muscle power by the army authorities. I therefore urge upon the Hon’ble MLA and Minister, Mr Sanbor Shullai to intervene, in a similar manner as he did in case of the GTC gate, and reopen the same. It will be a big relief for the commoners who have to spend precious time stranded in traffic congestion. At the same time, it is unrealistic on the part of the Cantonment authorities to keep this gate shut when the pandemic scenario has improved drastically and everything has opened up. I am sure Mr Shullai can effect a solution in the interest of the people of Greater Laban and other people of the town.
Yours etc.
BC Paul
Shillong – 4
Humanitarian crises in Afghanistan
Editor,
The UN estimates that nearly half of Afghanistan’s population, is facing severe hunger in the coming months. This apart, 3.2 million children under the age of 5, are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition by the end of the year. Against this backdrop, it is of enormous importance that the international community finds a way to address the humanitarian emergency. Considering that it must be done without provoking the Taliban and without failing to take into account the Taliban’s record of violation of human rights, it is an enormous task. Even before the Taliban took control, Afghanistan was facing humanitarian crisis. Years of violence, severe drought and disruptions had caused acute poverty. The fall of the government to the Taliban aggravated the crisis. The country’s economy has been contracting and it may lead to acute poverty. As funding from different sources has been cut off, the country is faced with flagging economy.
In this context, how emergency aid could be distributed in a proper way without emboldening the Taliban is a challenging question. As the Taliban government consists of radical factions, funds given to Afghanistan may be misused. Considering that the Taliban are notorious for violation of human rights, the aid may not be distributed fairly. Furthermore, gender segregation has deprived women of their rights.
Given that the Taliban are not concerned about the pathetic condition of the country’s citizens, the international community must engage with the government out of humanitarian considerations and try to solve the poverty the country faces.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS, ‘
Via email
DRDA with ADCs
Editor,
The central government has recently announced that the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) will now be placed at the disposal of the District Councils. The DRDA is a specialized and a professional agency capable for managing the anti-poverty programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development on the one hand and to coordinate the overall effort of poverty eradication on the other. In other words, while the DRDA will continue to watch over and ensure effective utilization of the funds intended for anti-poverty programmes, it will need to develop a far greater understanding of the processes necessary for poverty alleviation/eradication. It will also need to develop the capacity to build synergies among different agencies involved for the most effective results. It will therefore need to develop distinctive capabilities rather than perform tasks that are legitimately in the domain of the grassroots Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) or the line departments. The role of the DRDA will therefore be different from that of other agencies including the Zilla Parishad.
DRDAs are expected to interact effectively with various agencies and to coordinate with the line department, the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the banks and other financial institutions to access resources required for poverty reduction efforts in the district. In short, they have to be able to coordinate and bring about a convergence of approach among different agencies for poverty alleviation. Earlier the DRDAs were coordinating with the Panchayati Raj Instructions (PRI) without infringing into their domain. In effect the DRDA are not direct implementing agencies but support systems. Real implementation will now be the District Councils which will do that through the Village Development Councils; in other words, the Dorbar Shnong which are not democratically elected bodies and which also do not have the machinery and resources for project implementation and which have also not been examples of accountability. The District Councils have themselves not been very upfront about their own accounting procedures.
The only impact of the DRDAs coming under the purview of the Councils is that they will closely monitor project implementation and get periodic reports through frequent field visits. The purpose of the visit would be to facilitate the implementing agencies in improving implementation process, besides ensuring that the quality of implementation of programmes is high. This means that DRDAs will ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the benefits under the different programmes especially those earmarked for certain target groups (SC/ST, women and disabled).
In addition the DRDAs are to coordinate and oversee the conduct of the BPL Census and such other surveys that are required from time to time and also carry out action research/ or evaluation studies that are initiated by the Central/State Governments.
The DRDAs are meant to deal only with the anti-poverty programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development. If DRDAs are to be entrusted with programmes of other ministries or those of the State Governments, it should be ensured that these are focussed on anti-poverty programmes.
If the DRDA is to be tasked with any other programme by the Councils it will have to be done with the approval of the Secretary, Rural Development of the respective State who will then consult the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. In such cases, adequate staff should be provided. The challenge for the DRDA in Meghalaya will be to set the accountability benchmarks for the Councils and Dorbar Shnong.
Yours etc.,
R. Kharkongor,
Via email