Editor,
How can anyone eat food on a full stomach. If we overstuff ourselves we will have indigestion and vomiting. Not just that, it will take away our peace of mind too. Similar will be the case if we try to force the swarm of aggrieved residents of the Harijan colony into Mawbah. The locality is already very densely populated with no health care facilities to talk of and a poor sanitation system. Hence crowding the same “cramped” area and its vicinity will have serious repercussions.
Residents are already very anxious because the area already lacks the basic amenities and conveniences and just does not have the space to accommodate more residents. One is actually hoping that the government explores ways and means to “decongest” this overcrowded village.
With roads remaining static and with no scope of widening them and with the same sub-standard drainage and sanitation and the same crowded market, it is complete short-sightedness to think of adding more people to the localities. This will only add to miseries of the existing and new settlers leading to rise of multiple problems which we cannot even imagine now.
Moreover, Mawbah houses the only TB Hospital in the state, which, in fact, needs a serene and healthy environment for lung healing. Most of the TB patients from across the state depend on this hospital. The crowding in the locality is fraught with unpleasant circumstances. We need to be practical, not impulsive. A resident of the adjoining locality, who is a medical doctor by profession, rues that the government has already embarrassed itself by selecting this area with a TB Hospital to set up the electric crematorium, which he believes goes against the guidelines of medical science. Air in the atmosphere around the crematorium areas up to 200 meters or more is considerably toxic and laden with various germs and bacteria. No sane citizen will disagree with this.
Thus, we should take a decision that should not exacerbate the health hazards or allow the flaring up of social tensions A better roadmap must be drawn up for a proper settlement for the residents of Harijan Colony keeping in mind the mutual amity and co-existence among the communities. Identifying the ideal place with appropriate infrastructure is a must. The administration should make sure that the arrangement will not pose any kind of threat to the health, beauty and civic environment of the town. Come what may, the decision taken should not make us regret at leisure.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
Save our rivers now!
Editor,
Apropos the front page news headlined ‘Umkhrah, Umshyrpi rivers among polluted water bodies,’ (ST Aug 28, 2022), as a deeply concerned senior citizen who has witnessed the degeneration of the above pristine rivers to those of filthy drains that they’re today without an iota of hope in sight for their rejuvenation I am distressed and compelled to pen down this letter. My hope is that the authorities do something worthwhile immediately instead of just paying lip service or in this instant news item convey what’s on paper and being supposedly done only for public consumption like dutiful clerks. It’s obvious that little has been achieved and nothing more expected considering the present lackadaisical attitude of concerned authorities right from the top to the lowest levels of government and local traditional bodies, unless the government of the day decides to be serious with rejuvenation of these rivers.
Instead of squandering precious resources from the public exchequer for meaningless extravaganzas to attract tourists, serious efforts are necessary instead to marshal resources and agencies for effective implementation of schemes for the rejuvenation of these rivers. Then and only then can we justify having these now meaningless and fruitless extravaganzas galore with a lame duck excuse of attracting tourists.
Yours etc.,
Fearless Warjri,
Via email
NTA exam centres a torture for students
Editor,
National Testing Agency (NTA) has been established as a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admissions to and fellowships in higher educational institutions. However, as students if we apply for any examination we are allocated the centre at Guwahati. I have applied for NTA, NET examinations and my centre was Guwahati, whereas my friend was allocated a centre in Mizoram. As a general candidate, after paying Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 for the examination fees we also have to spend extra money to travel to other states for the examination. This time I have applied for SWAYAM exam and again I was allocated a centre in the interior area of Guwahati. This is causing a lot of problems for the students. The mail address for grievances is not being responded to by the NTA. The helpline number 011 6922 7700 is also not being attended to. The State Government, particularly the Education Department is urged to please look into the matter and help resolve the problems faced by students from Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
RK Sarki,
Shillong
Bilkis Bano case: Loss of faith in judicial system
Editor,
It was heart-breaking to hear the news that the 11 rapists convicted in the Bilkis Bano case were released early by the Gujarat Government. The state has the power to release them early and people deserve a second chance in life and legally there’s nothing wrong with releasing of a convict prior to the completion of their term of punishment. However, their felicitation and garlanding is something that’s not only distasteful but also morally wrong. The release of these convicts and their felicitation has only shaken the belief of the public in the judiciary. Calling these convicts as “Sanskari” will only encourage more crime and the society to once again rethink about the laws.
Our country still follows penal laws that are more than a hundred and sixty years old. The society has developed a lot from that time and so have the crimes, therefore it is must for the country to also amend or renew their penal laws and codes, so that crime rates may also reduce. The main aim of punishment is to either reform a person or to deter them from committing crime. However, it seems like in this case neither were the convicts reformed nor is the society deterred from committing heinous crimes like rape. There is an urgent need for all the three organs of government to engage on this issue so that the public can still have faith in the justice system.
Yours etc.,
Reakor Shisha Kharkrang,
Laitmynsaw Village,
Upper Shillong