Editor,
The recently concluded Non-Cooperation Movement called by a few social organisations against the election of Rakesh A Sangma as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the GHADC is an exercise in sheer futility which has brought economic disaster to thousands of people who live a hand to mouth existence coupled with young students losing out on precious classes.
Meghalaya is the 5th poorest state in the country and any disruption to economic activity brings more Meghalayans into the BPL status.
The imbroglio regarding the democratically elected CEM will not stand scrutiny in a court of law. The case will be thrown out. And there’s nothing to dispute the status of the democratically elected CEM. He is indeed a member of the A’chik tribe belonging to the A’gitok Mahari whether one likes it or not.
The pandemic coupled with total mismanagement in India has made most people poorer and students have lost almost 24 months of meaningful education. The online education is an unequal learning experience and on a scale 1 to 10, it will at best get a miserly 3. In the entire state of Meghalaya, education in the Garo Hills is not something to gloat about. The fact is most students are playing catch-up with the rest of the student fraternity.
Since we are playing catch-up we shouldn’t be shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s an outrageous exercise to cripple the entire education and economic sectors in the Garo Hills, to undemocratically unseat a CEM who has been elected democratically. I would advise the agitating organisations to seek justice in a court of law and challenge the election results of the democratically elected CEM of the GHADC.
We, the citizens living in the state of Meghalaya urgently require enlightened servant leadership and not charlatans who look for their ‘thirty pieces of silver ‘ in each transaction. Incidentally these ‘thirty pieces’ of silver are entrenched deeply in this ‘Christian state.’ No wonder Meghalaya is the 5th poorest state in the country.
The ‘loaves and fishes’ of the state are being siphoned off with no accountability whatsoever. We will talk about corruption another time. When our political masters are bereft of grey matter and Christian attitudes there’s no light at the end of this Meghalayan tunnel.
It’s also clearly observed that new political parties emerging in Meghalaya are just ‘Old Wine in New Bottles’. What we Meghalayans need is untainted servant leadership at all levels. Then only there’s salvation for us mere mortals living in the Abode of Clouds.
Yours etc.,
Tyrone D’Brass
Tura.
Sincere apologies
Editor,
In response to the letter, ” A Case of Plagiarism’ by Uma Purkayastha (ST Feb 2, 2022), I sincerely apologise to Ms Purkayastha for those 9 paragraphs in my article. I got the beautiful message on the WhatsApp of our ‘Netaji Shillong Connection’ and I was so impressed that I had used about 9 paragraphs of the message without intending to plagiarise and therefore I mentioned ‘ excerpts.’ Since the message came over WhatsApp, I was not sure who the original author of the content was. The best thing I could have done is after ‘ excerpts’ I should have used the excerpts in quotes. Please do accept my apologies. If not for that message we would not have known Netaji’s St Edmund’ s College connection.
Yours etc.,
W Passah
Ex H.O.D Electronics
St Edmund’s College
Kiang Nangbah College: Teachers’ unpaid dues
Editor,
In Jowai, the Kiang Nangbah Government College is applauded for being the college that provides admission even for below average students. If one teaches in this college, one can see a bunch of students juggling work and studies day in and day out, especially in the morning section. Recently, the college got accredited with Grade “B” by NAAC and this was a momentous occasion for it was hailed as the only government college in Meghalaya to have received Grade “B’’. Sadly, apropos to the letter, ‘’Pending lecturers’ salary’’(ST Jan 20, 2022), when it comes to the payment of the teachers of the morning section, the preferable Grade would be an “E”. A totally disappointing grade which reflects the neglect of the concerned authorities on the lecturers’ pending payment as well as the much-needed enhancement of the said payment. Till date, these lecturers would nevertheless show up for classes purely out of concern for the students of the morning shift and a deep sense of responsibility to them even without getting paid.
This is the classic story of the plight of a teacher in this state. As observed over time, teachers can only resolve issues by taking to the streets. This in turn would leave the students to suffer and lead to unnecessary nuisance, all because the shameless concerned authorities will not pay the lecturers their hard-earned dues.
Yours etc.,
E. Pohsnem,
Via email
Odd-Even Predicament
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily I would like to bring to the notice of the State administration about the prevailing odd/even registration number for private vehicles belonging to the state. This becomes a nightmare for vehicles coming from outside the state. They are caught completely unawares when they are told that their vehicles cannot ply on a particular day because it either has an odd or even number. Such vehicles are told to go back from where they came from or to shell out a fine for violating the odd/even directives. How will a vehicle coming from outside the state know as to what a particular number is prevalent on that day.
I would therefore request the state administration to give it a serious thought and allow the vehicles coming from other states particularly Assam and to instruct the officials at the entry point accordingly. Vehicles coming from outside and with permission to visit Shillong or its adjoining areas should not have to be fined for violation of the odd/even rules for no fault of theirs.
Yours etc.,
S.L. Singhania,
President,
Police Bazar Welfare Society