Editor,
As a journalist I have been fortunate to witness the Meghalaya Assembly Sessions from the Press Gallery regularly since 1985-86 onwards till 2020. I would carefully take notes of all that transpired in the House and what business was transacted during the period and accordingly I reported that for the print media. However, from December 2020 up to 2022, I could not be present in the House to witness the proceedings due to my physical disability. Prior to 1985-86, I witnessed some sessions from the visitors’ gallery only. The participation by the then members in the deliberations was worth listening to. Members were informed and educated on issues and engaged with a great deal of wit and humour too. There was never a dull moment. Besides, the Assembly debates were of a very high standard. It revealed the depth of knowledge and calibre of the Members of the House then. Also, the attendance of members was nearly always 100 percent.
It was from 1985-86 up to 1992 that the quality of debates and participation of members had considerably deteriorated. But from 1993 to 2020 the debates have been reduced to boring and staccato questions and answers and even the attendance too left much to be desired with members not caring to be present in the House. I also witnessed that it had become customary for many important questions concerning critical issues raised by members to lapse due to the absence of the members concerned. Too often the Opposition lacked co-ordination and strategies in taking up important issues to corner the ruling dispensation. In the House we have the Zero Hour Notices, the Call Attention Motions, Motions, Censure Motions, Confidence Motions, No-confidence Motions, Cut Motions, Resolutions, Government Bills, Private Members’ Bills, etc. What I have witnessed is that Zero Hour Notices, Censure Motions and No Confidence Motions were used very sparingly by the Opposition when they should instead resort to these motions laid down in the rule book to pin down the ruling party. Another glaring aspect was that the majority of the demands for grants by the government were guillotined because of too many Cut Motions that could not be taken up in the House within the time available, before the timeline fixed for passing of all the grants during the sessions. This again was due to the absence of strategy by the opposition.
But the most appalling drawback that I have observed is that members, especially those from the Opposition would attend the days’ sessions without doing their homework and informing themselves in-depth on the issues at hand. This despite having receiving the fixed calendar approved by the Business Advisory Committees well in advance. Another glaring scene that I have witnessed was that even the ministers came to the House without due preparation for replies to the questions submitted well in advance. They also could not reply to supplementary questions put by members. They just replied haphazardly or unsatisfactorily and resorted to delaying tactics for requesting for notices. Again, quite a number of ministers could not communicate clearly and were not audible despite the mics provided right in front of their seats and close to their mouths. They just mumbled and fumbled and beat about the bush to deviate from the main point, thereby whiling away the precious time of the House and in a sense not addressing issues that matter to the people. These tactics were employed more often while replying to important and sensitive call attention motions and other motions while replying to budget discussions and no confidence motions.
Now turning to the present 11th House (1918 to 2022) out of 1760 days, sessions were held only for 81 days. The large chunk of businesses transacted were those of the government. In 2018 the House met for 25 days; in 2019 for 11 days; in 2020 only 12 days; in 2021 for 17 days and in 2022 only 16 days. But I must point out one fact that must be put on record. The Winter Sessions were not held for quite a number of years for reasons best known to the NPP led government. I also found out that only the usual list of businesses like Question Hours, Few Zero Hour Notices, Call Attention Motions, Votes for Demands for Grants, few Cut Motions and Obituaries were taken up and disposed of by the House. Also another important finding that I must mention here and with all the authority at my command is that during the last five years I found that the member who is most intelligible, fluent and brings depth to the deliberations apart from frequently participating in the debates is George Bankyntiewlang Lyngdoh Mawphlang of Umroi Constituency, Himalaya Shangpliang, Mawsynram Constituency, (late) Bah Sentar Klass Sun, Mawphlang Constituency, Charles Pyngrope, Nongthymmai Constituency, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Laitumkhrah Constituency,Conrad K. Sangma, South Tura Constituency, Dr Mukul Sangma, Songsak Constituency, Mayralbon Syiem, Nongpoh Constituency and Prestone Tynsong, Pynursla Constituency, while those who always remained active and participated in the deliberations in the house are Process T. Sawkmie, Mawlai Constituency, Mr. Saleng Sangma, Gambegre Constituency, Zenith Sangma, Rangsakona Constituency and Rakkam Sangma, Rongara-Siju Constituency. Others participated very little in the discussions in the House while some others might not even get pass marks if indeed marks were to be allocated by the House rules.
With the passage of years fewer Assembly sessions are held. This trend is not at all healthy for the State. But the hallmark of the Meghalaya Assembly is that no private Bills were piloted by Members of the Oppositions after 1985-86. Even new legislations were rarely brought to the House by successive governments.
This gives us an idea of the health of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly!
Yours etc.,
Philip Marweiñ,
Sr. Journalist,
Shillong-2.
Deplorable Katgodown Road at JB Cantt.
Editor.
The stretch of around two hundred metres of road from Five Road Junction of Barapathar – Jhaluapara (Taxi Stand) towards the National Highway is in a deplorable condition for the past many months. Since this particular portion of the road falls under the Shillong Cantonment area, perhaps the State Government chooses not to carry out the periodical repairs. As a result, lots of potholes have developed in this stretch of very busy feeder road to the villages around it. One side of the road is always congested with parked vehicles and the other side of it is the business centre, which has sprung up during the last ten years. Due to the numerous potholes, it is extremely difficult even for pedestrians to commute through this road. Vehicle drivers, especially of small-wheeled vehicles and two-wheelers are finding it a tough task plying over it due to the degraded condition of this lifeline. When people line up for mid-day meals, distributed by the Ardhendu Choudhari Charitable Trust, the road becomes choc-a-bloc and due to the deep and large potholes coupled with disguised speed breakers, it becomes even more difficult to pass through it.
Incidentally, the Cantonment Board of Shillong has chosen to name this road after our Gurudev and put up a signboard calling this road “Rabindra Nath Tagore Marg.” So will the Cantonment Board ensure that the condition of this particular road is befitting to the names of the person after whom it is named – the great Nobel Laureate.
Yours etc…
Krishna Chettri
Shillong-2