Editor,
While it is nice to see that pavements along the Laitumkhrah main road are being given a facelift, it is very irksome to see that none of these pavements in the city have wheelchair accessibility. Even though most of our schools, colleges and offices have made provisions, something as simple as a footpath is not accessible to the differently abled. We still see people on wheelchairs having to ply on the road, constantly having to dodge speeding vehicles! Even the visually-impaired struggle to walk along these footpaths and walkways in our city. It is truly a sad sight. Maybe this is what happens when people who don’t have the slightest civic sense nor any educational qualifications get voted to power? Elections are round the corner, let us make the right choice.
Yours etc.,
Corrine War
Shillong – 3
Why this penchant to cut down trees?
Editor,
I would like to draw your kind attention to the ongoing mass felling of trees and construction work happening at Umroi Road, Umiam, all of it within 1.5 km distance from the dam for setting up of a gas bottling unit. This unit is coming up right opposite the residential college of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural College. A bottling plant opposite to a residential educational institution should have raised so many red flags regarding the safety of the students who live here and also of the nearby villages/ government institutions. Where are the NGOs/activists/politicians when you need them? An ecosystem is systematically being eroded with so much of the biodiversity gone all in the name of progress and development. Today it’s Joshimath, tomorrow it might as well be us. How are we going to justify our greed to the future generation? Are we not answerable to them? Most of us who are witness to this destruction of trees have to contend with the sense of impending doom and helplessness and cannot do much. However, I write this in the hope that someone equipped with the necessary know-how will be kind enough to look into the matter if possible
Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen
(Nanme withheld on request)
President to the rescue of poor prisoners
Editor,
President Murmu had expressed concerns over poor prisoners who are languishing in the jails due to non deposit of fine imposed by the courts. Financial support will be given to poor persons languishing in jails, who are unable to afford the penalty and bail amount, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. President Droupadi Murmu had in November last year suggested decongesting jails by helping the poor languishing there for years for petty crime.
“It is said that jails are getting overcrowded and there is a need to set up more jails. What is the need for more jails? We need to reduce their number,” the President had said on Constitution Day. Murmu had said there was a need to do something for poor people languishing in jail.
“You need to do something for these people. Who are these people in jail? They do not know their fundamental rights, the Preamble or fundamental duties,” Murmu had said. “If people landing up in prison for petty crime are a burden on the government. I leave this to you (referring to judges and the Law Minister),” the President had said, stressing: “Our job is to think about the poor undertrials languishing in jails.”
This example shows how a president of country is having the concerns for the poorest of poor to poor person. Keeping in view the sensitive attitude of the President of country I being a disability activist had sent the representation on behalf of all disabled who had been denied their legitimate right of full pension as well full family pension. As per media reports the husband of president was in Bank of India so after taking the charge I had sent two reminders but got no response. So through this letter I request her to take into consideration the representation sent to her as the disparity exists since the last 26 years and no one takes interest in the problems of the disabled as the number of such persons are very a few and can be counted on the fingertips. I expect that the President of country will take note of the sufferings of the disabled.
Yours etc.,
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Via email