Editor,
G.O.A.T or Greatest of All Time is the tag that millions of football fans across the globe associate with the likes of Ronaldo and Messi for their stupendous performance over all others in the game of football. Looking at the state of affairs in Meghalaya and if the ruling dispensation doesn’t take corrective actions to right the wrongs, the acronym G.O.A.T will one day be called the Greatest of All Thieves. The plethora of alleged scams occurring in this small state is beyond comprehension. To name a few of these starting with the illegal smuggling of coal, the power sector scams, rice scam, illegal mushrooming of coke plants, the assembly dome collapse and the latest one is the alleged police department scandal, one is truly scandalized. Besides these there are also so many unfulfilled promises in the road sector missing the deadlines, the agitators taking to the street on many occasions with regards to salary and many more other issues which if mentioned may take up the whole space of letters to the editor.
The issues in the state are serious symptoms of incompetence by the political bosses fuelled by greed. All these wayward things cannot happen if there was a strong and disciplined executive. The value system of governance in the state is completely compromised and this system of governance must have originated from the top chair and trickled down the line. This is apparent from the lip service given by the incumbent CM in blatantly defending all his cabinet’s fault in spite of prima facie evidence of corruption happening across all departments.
For instance, in his latest defence that illegal mining of coal in remote places are impossible to monitor is a weak defence, since the real problem is that illegal mining takes place only because there is illegal transportation. For any public related work, the first step crucial for success of the same is ‘good Intention for public good’ but in the case of Meghalaya that is not the case but the antonym of the phrase. Now, it is for the public to learn this valuable lesson and to come out in full force to voting booths in the forthcoming election rather than make it a day of family picnics, fishing and other activities during that very important day and vote cautiously. If not and if we still choose the wrong representatives, we will spend the next 5 years of Deja-vu at our workplaces and social spaces criticising the government like what has happened in the last 5 years. At the same time we will be responsible for the birth of our local G.O.A.T or “Greatest of All Thieves” for generations to come.
Yours etc.,
Deity Majaw,
Via email
Laitumkhrah Dorbar controversy
Editor,
It was very disturbing to read the article, “Action of Hima Mylliem towards Laitumkhrah Dorbar arbitrary” by Wankitbok Pohshna (ST Sep 1, 2022). On careful reading of the article, it appears arbitrary and not in the interest of justice that one Rangbah Shnong out of three whose sanad (term of office) has ended should be appointed Acting Rangbah Shnong to conduct the next election to the Laitumkhrah Dorbar Shnong. Laitumkhrah as a Shnong has been the example for many in the way the local governance system has functioned. Everything is going on well so it’s difficult to understand why a group of young people would disrupt a Dorbar meeting and use foul language at that. This seems to be the norm today – if you cannot win an argument in the civil manner then use foul language. This is also a sign of how the Khasi etiquette is abandoned by the present generation. Perhaps the young don’t even know what the Khasi etiquette (Ki Jingsneng Tymmen) is all about. I hope those are still taught in school.
By the look of things it appears that the very foundation of the Khasi traditional institution is now on a slippery slope. The Acting Syiem of Mylliem seems to be influenced by one of the Rangbah Shnong and is allowing him to dictate terms. In this case when the Acting Syiem of Mylliem and the Dorbar Shnong are in conflict and the Syiem seems to have lost the confidence of the people then the District Council which is the appointing authority of all the Syiems should step in and set things right. This is not a matter that should be left unattended. What happens if the two Rangbah Shnong approach the civil courts against the third Rangbah Shnong and the Acting Syiem of Mylliem? This will have far reaching consequences and will chip away at the Khasi indigenous cultural institution – the Dorbar Shnong.
This also brings into question the deficiencies of the Autonomous District Councils which have not yet framed laws on how the Dorbar Shnongs are to function. Without any laws and principles how can the Dorbar Shnong continue to be guided by a Sanad from the Syiems whose functions have not been defined in the Sixth Schedule. These are gaps that should have been addressed but we are also infamous about addressing anything until things spin out of control. The result is now before us and it exposes the Khasi traditional governing system which has not evolved with the changing times, including that of not allowing women to hold office in the Dorbar Shnong. Time has come to set things in order. But who will do this? There are too many parallel authorities that all want power but don’t understand that real power belongs to the people.
Yours etc.,
AN Thangkhiew,
Via email