Editor,
Every Meghalayan should hang his/her head in shame when we think of the plight of our brothers and sisters who live at the borders. The recent incident at Mukroh is one of many such incidents which have occurred in the past. But sad to say that our governments have never taken any resolute action to address this perennial issue. The complacency and indifference of the government towards the border population has been capitalized by Assam, which is boldly encroaching into our territory. The Assam police would never dare to take a step into the territory of Nagaland or Mizoram because the governments of these states are very patriotic and they would not hesitate to respond tit for tat as seen in many instances. In fact, it is the Nagas who are gaining territories of Assam and not vice versa.
Meghalaya has become an easy target and a toothless victim of encroachment be it from Assam or from Bangladesh. Every Khasi knows that we have lost a large portion of land in Ri Bhoi area due to the frequent encroachments from Assam. One wonders what MoU has been made between the CM of Meghalaya and his Assam counterpart in the recent border talks. The continuing harassment of our people at the borders prove that the talks have only emboldened the Assam government. The government’s decision to set up police outposts in border towns, is actually only a half-measure solution. What we need at the border areas is a full-fledged Border Police Force which should enroll only local youths (Khasis and Garos). Recruiting non-locals to protect the borders would defeat its very purpose. It is the local tribal youth who would display more loyalty and patriotic sentiments in guarding the state’s borders. This Police Force should be well armed in every sense so as to act as a deterrent to the encroachers.
I still remember that when the HNLC was still vibrant, our villages in the border areas were living in peace and security because the encroachers were afraid of them. With the dismantling of this outfit, once again our people in the borders have become sitting ducks for the Assam Police. It is evident that the presence of an armed force in the form of a Border Police Force, would go a long way to ensure security for our poor people living at the borders. This would also provide more employment opportunities to the many unemployed youth in our state. Ironically while our people at the borders are becoming martyrs of incursion, our netas, bureaucrats and affluent citizens are reveling in the city. Is there one MLA of a border constituency who resides in the border, away in the far-flung village? I don’t think so because our Netas have mansions in Shillong and perhaps they only pay fleeting visits to their people on rare occasions. Now that election campaigns are coming, definitely they will be found in the villages every other day. Once they win the election, not even their shadows remain in those villages. Should not there be a rule that every MLA and MDC representing rural constituencies (especially border areas) ought to reside at least a quarter of a year in their constituencies? Perhaps this will make them know, understand and feel the suffering and deprivations of the poor people. If so, they would understand the urgency of having good roads, regular electricity and adequate communication facilities. As of today they are not feeling the pinch in their people’s shoes and so they continue to remain indifferent and unconcerned to the sufferings of the rural people.
Let us watch and see what steps the MDA Government takes in the aftermath of Mukroh.
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie sdb,
Via email
Old pension scheme & Himachal election results!
Editor,
It was no less amazing to see that the Congress party has wrested the BJP ruled state of Himachal Pradesh at the recently announced election outcome on December 8, 2022. The elements of this wonder never ceases was on account of the fact that even as most of the eminent media channels had given the BJP a clear edge over the Congress in this state, but, reportedly it was only the India Today TV news channel which had given the Congress an unmistakable majority of 40 seats in the house of 68 members. And the final results have proven that the exit polls of India Today had hit a bull’ s eye! Such a stunning prediction of the latter has prodded one news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai of this channel to jump to his feet and dance inside the studio with one of his colleagues! Mentionably, Rajdeep Sardesai is the son of that well known Indian cricketer of yesteryears, Dilip Sardesai.
It goes without saying that one of the pre-eminent factors that precipitated the Congress’s unprecedented victory at the hustings in question was the assurances dished out by the chief campaigner Priyanka Gandhi and others to the state’s employees and their respective families of restoring the old pension scheme if duly voted to power , the same of which is virtually axed by the BJP ruled states! This word of honour handed out by the Congress has evidently struck a right chord across the board. Taking a leaf out of this unexceptionable instance set by the Congress, many opine that the soon to be held Assembly elections in Meghalaya, any political party that favours the said old pension plan of action in respect of the state’s employees may garner rich dividends in terms of vote share given that in my wide interactions with all Meghalaya ‘s employees who have joined services post 31st March, 2010, the dead line when Government of Meghalaya nullified forthwith pension infrastructure. These personnel are deeply aggrieved for being denied the pensionary advantages as availed by their senior counterparts. Additionally, most of the political pundits I’ve spoken to believe that for the rehabilitation of old pension plan in Meghalaya the only parties that can bring home this benefit are the Congress or TMC of Mamta Banerjee as virtually all the BJP ruled states have brought to nought the pension scheme.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh,
Via email