Editor,
With the ever- increasing number of vehicles on the road, accidents are commonplace nowadays. Vehicles are getting technologically advanced and reliable these days and road accidents due to mechanical failure are rare if maintained properly. The same is true for road designs which have improved substantially in recent times and faulty road designs are hardly to blame for most of the accidents. This brings to the fore the point that human errors are primarily responsible for most of the road accidents and fatalities. This also implies that the onus lies with the motorists in preventing the vast majority of these accidents. Judgmental errors, rash driving or driver fatigues are some of the major components that can be termed as human errors and are preventable to a great extent.
Very recently I met with an accident the outcome of which could have been very nasty. I had a hectic schedule a couple of days before and did not have sufficient rest. While returning to Shillong from my hometown in Assam, I dozed off at the wheel and within a fleeting moment hit a parked vehicle and veered off towards a gorge. Fortunately, the stationary vehicle acted to reduce the momentum of my car and a concrete pillar and some bushes helped to prevent any roll over. Both the cars were seriously damaged but miraculously none of us in the vehicle were hurt. I was shocked at the sudden turn of events, but was immediately reassured by the comforting nature of the locals gathered there. This is very important for those involved in accidents, especially for the injured. Small gestures of sympathy and help can go a long way in recovering from the sudden trauma. I called the police helpline and soon a traffic police vehicle arrived to take charge of the situation. The cars were towed back to the police station at Mawlai and official formalities started.
In these pages of this newspaper I once praised the professionalism of Shillong Traffic Police in managing the chaotic traffic of Shillong city. I reiterate again the professionalism of the traffic personnel involved in my case and the help they have rendered during that nightmare. Now, coming to the point whether such mishaps can be prevented, my feeling is that situations like this are entirely preventable with a little effort and consciousness on the part of the motorists. If a driver is feeling tired while driving, he should pull off the road and rest for a while. But sometimes we tend to ignore this in the never-ending race of life as happened to me which could potentially result in serious consequences. In advanced countries, the driver has to mandatorily rest for sometime after driving for a certain period of time. This helps to reduce driver’s fatigue and judgmental errors. Is not an hour of rest worth investing in than potentially risking physical and mental trauma not to mention huge financial implications?
I will never sit behind the wheels when tired or feel like dozing off. I learnt the lesson of my life the hard way!
Yours etc.,
Dr Uttam Saikia
Zoological Survey of India, Shillong
Via email
Wanted complete polling data
Editor,
The news report in The Shillong Times of March 9, 2023 regarding the data of votes polled by different major parties in the just concluded assembly elections in Meghalaya is informative and interesting. Could you please try to complete the picture and provide us the data concerning the other parties/ groups who have fielded contestants. The data would be very useful for many.
Yours etc.,
River Wallang,
Via email
Democrazy in Meghalaya
Editor
Events transpiring in the last few days are not new when you have a plethora of wannabe filmmakers. At once I thought of some scenes from Gangs of Wasseypur. Social media in Meghalaya has been pouring with rants on the UDP-HSPDP and PDF for their support to MDA 2.0 and the subsequent meetings to find their lost sheep. The electorate had a chance to reverse their fortunes on February 27 but they have not chosen to do so. Hence blaming their Shahenshahs (political masters) is just adding fuel to the fire. At the end of the political spectrum, BJP’s pointsman Amit Shah has leveraged his game for the 2024 elections. A friend once told me that the fate of Meghalaya lies in the hands of the rural masses and the lofty promises and warped manifestos will never see the light of day. The problem is in trusting the wrong people, but it is the right time to take ownership of our problems and move to a new tomorrow. In the book ‘The Case of the Bonsai Manager’ by R.Gopalakrishnan, it is clear that too much power will bring forth folly.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10
Inflation a big worry
Editor,
I read and watch a lot about countries whose imports are way more than what they export. Such countries ultimately take huge loans to get their economy running and pay an equally huge amount of interest on those loans. Then they take more loans just to pay the interests. Of course corruption also plays a big role in adding to the economy’s suffering. Meghalaya today is setting the same example as such countries with very less export and lots of imports, especially at a phase when everything is expensive, from fuel to house rent to electricity and almost everything needed for day today living. Earlier there was a time when Meghalaya relied on coal , timber and tourism. Expenses were lesser and so people did spend but could also save, but now the economy has taken a U- turn. People cannot save much due to day to day expenses, like house rent, childrens’ education, food expenses, fuel , transportation etc. Unlike Assam we don’t generate adequate revenue, and are dependent on the Centre for funds. How will business run when the general public has no income? It’s a complete lie to promise jobs when the state generates no revenues and has no thriving private sector. Tourism is halved because of the law and order situation in the state, and if ILP comes I doubt if our tourism industry can still generate any revenue. Only a few corrupt people close to the Government are earning lavishly, whereas the large majority of people are in a big financial mess. There’s no road map for development, and things will go on as they used to while suffering will increase. Hope some measures towards development are taken by this Government by thinking differently.
Yours etc.,
Justin Roy,
Shillong-2