Editor,
With sincere support to the letter, ‘Collective Responsibility’ by Iamon. M. Syiem (ST June 7, 2022), I would like to add that prompt legal action and exemplary punishment of the child-killer may temporarily appease our anguish, but the irreparable loss of the unfortunate mother will never be filled. The moral degradation of such cruel and heartless revengeful fathers will not be met by severe punishment but only by true repentance and realisation coming from the depth of their hearts. The domestic life of parents and their innocent children cannot regulated by any government or administration. It is a relationship of love, faith, tolerance and adjustment with each other. In too many cases the mal-adjustment between husband and wife victimises the innocent children, where humanity fails! The recent incident is the worst example of such inhuman and brutal act of immorality! When the father himself is the killer of his own child, where is the solace? The remedy for this social malaise is counselling for behavioral change which may bring domestic peace and safety for the children.
Yours etc
Uma Purkayastha
Shillong – 4
Why the negativity
Editor,
For the first time a conference of women was livestreamed and one watched the women who participated in the first ever State Women’s Conference held on June 8, 2022 at the State Convention Centre. This Conference reveals an evolution in the empowerment of women in Meghalaya. As per statistics released by the CM, the Chief Guest of the event, there are more than 40,000 women SHGs now in Meghalaya. If this is true we are seeing a counter revolution for empowerment, of women, by women in Meghalaya. It is a move that should be encouraged. Empowering our women, especially in decision-making should be a natural outflow of State Policy in a State that loves to showcase its Matrilineal system. If one is not mistaken this was the focus point of the presentation made in the Conference by Ms Phidalia Toi, Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW). Empowering women through Women SHGs; encouraging entrepreneurship, empowering them to participate in governance, business and profit-making activities, should and must be a thrust area of development by the Government. The CM spoke of Rs 210 Crores earmarked for the above. This is great but Government must also make sure to empower these women’s groups on concepts of book-keeping, accountability and transparency. They must develop the trust and confidence among themselves as this is the basic foundation and motivation for their growth.
In all this euphoria, hope and exultation towards a better future for our women, especially the rural women of Meghalaya, someone had to stand up and pour cold water on all the expectations of the day. We are told that a woman activist was invited to speak and she literally damned the whole proceedings by her unpardonable and unfounded bitter criticism of the initiatives of the Government, the Department concerned and the MSCW. While there is a time and place to censure the system when it fails the people but there are occasions when one has to rise above cynicism and negativity to give inspiration and optimism and this conference was an ideal moment to encourage the women of the State as they struggle to find their own space in a world dominated by indifferent and at times hostile men. I know that Marx and Mao were great champions of the proletariat but the need for our women today is not that they be brainwashed by disciples and devotees of Maoism but to give women space for women themselves to find their own feet, stand on those two feet and start changing the world. Forward Women of Meghalaya. God go with you.
Yours etc.,
Phillis Nongbet,
Via email
NEIGRIHMS and CTVS Ward
Editor,
As one of the patients who has been suffering for many years, I take this opportunity to set aside the doubts of most people about the carelessness of doctors and nurses of NEIGRIHMS hospital. Many people have unnecessarily instilled fear in those wanting to be treated at NEIGRIHMS that if they are treated there and especially if they undergo heart surgery the probability of dying is very high. I also heard a lot about the carelessness of the NEIGRIHMS nurses from too many people. But as one of the patients who has just completed 100 percent successful Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) surgery, I take this opportunity to clarify about these general misconceptions.
Most people will tell you not to get treatment here (NEIGRIHMS) because of the fears that have been lingering amongst us. This is completely untrue. Some patients are taken to NEIGRIHMS as the last resort which is likely to be difficult for the doctors and nurses. As a patient who is healthy now and who just received successful heart valve replacement surgery, I would like to clarify that the allegations against NEIGRIHMS are untrue. During my 41 days of treatments in the ICU and CTVS ward I found that the doctors, nurses and even the ward boys and girls and the staff were very kind and helpful in immeasurable ways.
On behalf of all the patients who had received successful surgeries especially in the CTVS ICU, I take this privilege to thank Dr. Reuben Lamiaki M. Ch, Dr. Sanjib Rawat M. Ch, perfutionist (Mr. Mrinal Mandal and Mr. Ioosar Dkhar), all the sisters in ICU as well as in the CTVS wards and all the ward boys and girls and the staff of NEIGRIHMS for their treatment, words of encouragement, support and their kind gesture towards us patients. I hope this letter will encourage those in need of treatment to remove the fears and misconceptions that are spread by prejudiced minds. Go get your treatment in NEIGRIHMS and you won’t regret it. But please don’t go there as a last resort because that makes it difficult for any doctor anywhere to treat. Last but not least, “Time is the very essence of life itself.”
I express my deepest gratitude to NEIGRIHMS for giving me a second lease of life and lifting me out of depression. I have written this from personal experience and from what I had witnessed during those days of my treatment. One person’s experience may vary from another’s but this is my testimony.
Yours etc.,
T. Khongphai,
Upper Shillong