Editor,
This particular write up is not on the current situation in Ukraine,the propaganda machine of Russia nor is it to compliment Ukraine on its resilience, bravery and love of mother land. On the contrary it is the heartfelt condolences from all of us to Naveen, from Kanartaka the 4th year medical student in Ukraine who was killed in the shelling of civilian buildings by the Russians on March 1, 2022. Condolences poured in for Naveen from India Ukraine and all parts of the world, and even from the meeting of world leaders.
And the only words from Naveen’s bereaved father to Prime Minister Modi is, “Please do something for medical education in India. My son scored 97percent in Higher Secondary yet I had to send my son for medical studies in Ukraine because I cannot pay crores of rupees of capitation fees in India. Ukraine universities are no less than ours but rather even better than Indian universities.”
From Meghalaya currently here are about 30 students stranded in Ukraine. A student from Laitkor and another from Malki could narrate their stories on YouTube. We pray for the safe return of the many thousands still stranded.
30 years ago, those who could not score at par with the toppers numbering 20 or more left India for Ukraine and China. And returning home, have to pass the MCI exam. And they performed well. Since NEET won back the case in the Supreme Court in 2016, and NEET was born, our Meghalaya toppers be they CBSE, ICSE or MBOSE could never qualify in spite of tribal concessions. The poor who missed by a margin managed to take up Veterinary Science. The others take up Arts to be lost to eternity, as pure science has no scope and to switch to Arts is Greek to them. And this goes on and on in our country with no vision. People have different talents and a state with a vision would hone those accordingly. But this has not happened restuling in a mismatch between talent and aspiration.
In Tamil Nadu there is a strong protest against NEET. If the Tamil Nadu succeeds in doing away with NEET on the plea that education is on the concurrent list, then our Education Minister too could initiate similar revocation of NEET in Meghalaya. Only then will our aspiring doctors see better days ahead.
One lesson from Ukraine is that India does not have affordable medical colleges to cater to aspiring doctors.
Yours etc.,
F. Lyngdoh
Via email
The puzzling Aadhaar scheme
Editor,
Since the saffron party assumed power in 2014 there has been confusion in respect of the process of Aadhaar registration of citizens. In this context, several Government bodies, banking institutions and much else, have been pestering the people on Aadhaar cards and lately the authorities concerned have issued a warning that not linking Aadhaar to PAN will tantamount to the latter becoming redundant by 31st March, 2022! Markedly, however, the apex court on October 1, 2021 had directed the Central Government and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIADI) not to make Aadhaar card mandatory for Covid-19 vaccination. And furthermore, to add spice to this contention the website of UIADI under web-page called “Aadhaar myth busters” has in no uncertain terms assured that Aadhaar was not compulsory for getting a mobile SIM. Further it reiterated that the same was essential ònly when a person wanted the benefits of subsidies under the notified Government schemes.
Recently the Union Law Minister, Kiren Rijiju has, to the bewilderment of all in the Parliament stated that Aadhaar is to be linked with EPIC. This implies that Aadhaar has been made inescapable given that EPIC is indispensable in our life long career! However, taking a u-turn, he has inexplicably later on been reported to have said that Aadhaar linking to EPIC cannot be made mandatory as this depends on one’s options. In a word, the issue of Aadhaar has for that matter, thrown the public into a welter of confusion and reduced us into a Hamletian dilemma! Aadhaar vis-a-vis this present dispensation reminds me of the book of Genesis highlighted at 11:1-9 on building a tower of Babel where one builder can’t follow the language of his counterparts and vice versa leading to the ultimate collapse of the ambitious project of reaching heaven. Similarly, those at the helm in our country issue different directions at their whims, leading to bewilderment between what is communicated by the officialdom and UIADI on the one hand and what we hear on the news every day.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh
Via email
India’s ambivalent stance
Editor,
When the UN Security Council met to debate and vote on an important resolution deploring the Russian invasion of Ukraine, majority of nations sided with Ukraine. However, the Indian government chose to abstain. India took a neutral stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine so that it could maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine. On the other hand, India’s abstention on Ukraine resolution risks its democratic image before the world.
Some political observers point out that by siding with China and by keeping silent on the Russian aggression, India has surrendered its moral principles. India is one of the global democracies. Whenever democratic principles are violated anywhere in the world, India’s intervention is sought by other countries. The USA believes that India has a great role to play in establishing peace and democratic values in the world.
In the Russian invasion of Ukraine, what needs to be done is defend democracy from authoritarianism. By invading Ukraine, what Russia did is that it deprived Ukraine of its right to exist as a democratic country. Furthermore, Russia disturbed the stable peace in Europe.
The resolution deploring Russian invasion of Ukraine will now move to the UN General Assembly for debate and voting. India will get one more opportunity to prove that it is a champion of democratic values. It must show the world that it is the world’s largest democracy. If India can stand with other democracies in condemning the Russian invasion, it will send a powerful message to the world.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam