Editor
The statements coming out of the Congress party to extend its support on “issues” taken up with the current MDA coalition and at the same time not entertaining the BJP within its parameters is akin to winking with one eye and nodding its head. The “issues” that the Congress plans to take up were always part and parcel of what the earlier party members who have now become recognized AITC legislators in the Opposition bench were concerned about. Notwithstanding the fact that a host of “issues” are still lying unfinished on the table of the MDA, it is the AITC that will be taking these to their solution. How can people trust the Congress party when it seems to speaks a language of the MDA government? In principle the NPP has told the Congress, “You are either with us or against us.” No matter what the Congress says now the credibility of the Party has sunk.
Yours etc.,
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Via email
Flyover at Rilbong point the need of the hour
Editor,
Every day we experience the nightmare of traffic jams in Shillong and also we read in your newspaper the reports, complaints and suggestions regarding this menace. The Traffic police have tried their best but I think they have exhausted all methods and strategies to solve the problem. Everyone knows the cause of the problem right from an ordinary man on the road to the men in power in the government. What is the cause? “With time the number of vehicles has increased while the width of the roads are decreasing”. When I say the width of the road is decreasing, you may be surprised, but this is true as hawkers have taken over a quarter of the road especially in Laitumkhrah area and the road leading to Motphran.
The spill- over effect of the traffic jam in the city is seen in the choc-a-bloc traffic in the highways leading to the city, viz, at Upper Shillong, Mawlai and Nongthymmai. But the reverse effect is also happening. When there is a traffic jam at the Rilbong point near Umshyrpi, it will spill over to the Anjalee point, Barik point and also to Garikhana junction near KHADC then up to Mawlai.
The only solution to traffic problems in Shillong are flyovers. Building of flyovers involve huge cost and availability of land is another problem; but if a flyover is built at the Rilbong point stretching from the Umshyrpi bridge upto the military hospital, I think it should be possible if the military establishment is ready to part with a portion of their land as they have done for the Shillong-Mylliem Four lane. And this proposed flyover if built will connect the upcoming four-lane to Shillong city thereby reducing the traffic congestion in those aforesaid choke points to a considerable extent. Let the government show that it has the will, so that this will be possible.
Dr M. Lyndem
St. Edmund’s College
Via email
Vaccination for younger people
Editor,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Covid-19 vaccination for those in the 15-18 year age group from January 3 and booster doses for healthcare and frontline workers from January 10. In his address instead of saying “booster dose”, PM Modi said “precautionary dose” because more information needs to be passed on to people in this regard.
While the Prime Minister’s announcement has been welcomed with relief, it is not clear yet which vaccine will be used for the booster dose in India. PM Modi’s announcement came after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to indigenously developed Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children above 12 years.
Covid-19 vaccination is effective in preventing the disease. On the other hand, it may become less effective over time. In the wake of the emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, many unvaccinated, vaccinated with one dose and fully vaccinated people are susceptible to be infected.
As children below 18 have not yet been vaccinated, they are likely to be infected. As schools and other educational institutions are still working and children are not protected against the disease, it is a cause for concern. Hence, there is an urgent need to vaccinate children. The governments must undertake rigorous vaccination campaigns and build up capacity for emergency response. As a major section of the population are at the risk of infection or reinfection, we need to keep our life-saving tools ready.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam
Omicron scare and outcome
Editor,
A pandemic does not take long to spread in this era of ease of travel when people fly for business or pleasure from one country to another or one state to another. But this has a cost and we are seeing this happening since phase one of Covid. It is travellers who bring in the virus and once it enters a state it does not take time to spread. There is no knowing if Omicron will warrant another lockdown but if that happens many small and big businesses will have to fold up. Students are promoted from one class to the next after writing an exam online often with the help of parents who want their child to excel. Already there is a sense of dystopia about whether or not there will be normal classes in the coming year. All these are creating a sense of foreboding as to the future of education in the country and the world. Perhaps those in the education sector should come up with better strategies for online teaching that ensures attendance and also better planning that would prevent wastage of the school year. It is also time that the Government of India directs state governments to take stock of the number of students that have dropped out during the pandemic and how to bring them back to the school system with minimum damage.
The pandemic does not allow complacency of any kind. The Allahabad High Court had in fact requested the Election Commission of India to postpone the UP polls happening early next year in view of the tendency of voters to crowd at election meetings without masks and social distancing. Sadly the leaders lead their way in this. There is merit in what the Allahabad High Court is suggesting. Elections are not a matter of life and death anyway. States should now gear up since they have had enough time to prepare and there can be no excuse for any kind of unpreparedness.
Yours etc.,
T Kharbani,
Via email