Editor,
I remember attending a meeting conveyed by the then S.P. Shillong at the Police Reserve Community Hall. The meeting was called to apprise the gathering comprising Headmen/ Rangbah shnongs of Shillong about installing CCTV cameras in Shillong to curb criminal activities as well as to streamline the traffic along the Shillong Roads. Everybody welcomed the move and initiative of the Government for this project.
I had some apprehensions in my mind and asked the then S.P. Shillong that it shouldn’t go the way of the street signal light posts which died an unnatural death and never saw the light of day. Crores of rupees were spent on this project without any result and public money went down the drain. But the then S.P. said that CCTV cameras will be fool-proof and will be installed by a reputed company.
But as the years passed by the reality of these CCTV cameras has hit us hard. The mystery of the hit and run case right in front of the Civil Hospital Police Point is a daring example of the failure of the CCTV cameras. The culprit has not been apprehended so far. It is not known as to how many more lives will be lost like that of Biman (Moloy) Talukdar and the Police Department is yet to find a clue in spite of their claims of identifying the offending killer biker.
Before it is too late the Police Department should check and take steps to rectify the faulty cameras, as well as the non-functioning cameras and book the company for repairs etc., at their own cost as early as possible.
Yours etc.,
S.L. Singhania
Shillong
Killer drivers of Shillong
Editor,
I was in Shillong on a family visit and have just returned from there to Kolkata. This visit was undertaken after a gap of nearly three years. I was aghast to see extreme deterioration in the living standards of the people. In particular, road safety has become abysmally low . Day in and day out pedestrians are being hit by cars and two wheelers. The street lighting is very inadequate causing pedestrians to get hit by two wheelers in particular. The CCTV coverage is totally inadequate and the two wheeler drivers are speeding without anyone stopping them. On September 20 last a two-wheeler hit a relative of mine, an elderly pedestrian and sped away leaving the person to die on the street. The authorities are yet to conduct a proper investigation into the matter and neither is any effort made to nab the culprit. What sort of a cruel and lawless world are we living in?
I earnestly request this newspaper to please take up the issue of road safety in Shillong with the Hon’ble Chief Minister to make the city safe for pedestrians and in particular to arrest the killer of late Biman Talukdar. This would be a great service to society.
Yours etc.,
SK Mitra
Kolkata
Keep dogs within boundaries
Editor,
Apropos of the letter ‘Animal lives over human lives’ (ST October 10, 2022), I extend my full support and sympathy with the aggrieved writer. I too, am a resident of Laitumkhrah and I fear for myself and my family’s lives at the thought of dogs attacking us. I have a 7-year old daughter and the recent dog attack has developed a dog phobia in me. I never hated dogs but the increasing number of dogs that move around in a pack is terrorising one and all.
To all the dog lovers concerned, if my daughter becomes a victim of dog bite(God forbid!) or any other human being, for that matter, will they come forward to empathise with us emotionally/financially? No,never because only the wearer of the shoe feels the bite! (pun intended!).And the one thing that baffles me is why dog owners allow their pets to run loose in the busy streets of Laitumkhrah.Is dog above man?I surely hope not. My humble request to all dog lovers/dog owners- if you love them, keep them and keep them grounded within prescribed boundary limits!
Yours etc.,
Mona Lyngdoh
A very concerned citizen,
Via email
Jal Jeevan Mission or Jal Stopping Mission!
Editor,
Jal Jeevan Mission is a task undertaken by the National Government to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections throughout the country. However, for Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya it is something different. It is a matter of regret that the authority concerned is not even able to provide safe drinking water on a regular basis to the old connections leave aside the new ones. Residents of certain areas of Shillong, especially Lower New Colony and Laitumkhrah in the recent period are getting water for one day and for the next one or two days the taps are dry and the excuse is that there is no water in the tank. Nobody knows the reason and no one is responsible too. Earlier in the sixties water was supplied twice a day but now it that is history. It is for this reason the Jal Jeevan Mission may be renamed as Jal Stopping Mission for Shillong. Though the mission is promised to be completed within 2024 but nobody can predict how many 2024s will be required to provide adequate supply of safe drinking water in the said localities. Nonetheless, it has been promised by the concerned department in Meghalaya that it will complete the mission well before the deadline announced by the Central Government.
In the recent past, as per media reports an award was presented in the National capital and the presenter perhaps believed in the paper work and is unaware about the ground reality of water supply situation in Shillong. Last but not the least the concerned department seems to be least bothered and perhaps is working with the new ‘motto’ ‘We won’t correct ourselves; we are stubborn and shall remain so because we are not accountable to anyone’
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email
On contractual teachers
Editor,
From reports in your newspaper, it is understood that the terminated primary school teachers have already completed 10 to 12 years of teaching service. Hence by any standard, they are invaluable assets of the state of Meghalaya. We hope that the State Government is doing all it can to include these valuable human assets in its fold. It is high time for the enlightened people of this State to consider advising the Government on how not to waste the human capital of such experienced individuals of our society. In this connection the, letter of Ms A Basaiawmoit (ST Oct 08, 22) is “food for thought” for the Government to take note of. To add to what Ms Basaiawmoit had said it is suggested that besides allowing them to reappear for the MTET as per the order of the Supreme Court, this terminated contractual teachers may be given special age relaxation while applying for other Government jobs. Unless any terminated teacher has crossed the age of superannuation vis a vis Government service, the number of years of service rendered on contractual basis may be subtracted from their actual age to meet the maximum age limit prescribed for initial recruitment, so as to make them eligible for applying for any Government service in the State. A teacher who has reached the age of superannuation may be considered for Golden Handshake in recognition of their valuable services in teaching our children, as suggested by the above-named writer. Finally, thanks to the President of MGLPSCTA for calling off the agitation, we hope all your terminated colleagues will be suitably placed in the days to come.
Yours etc.,
Krishna Chettri
Shillong-2