Ensuring road safety through responsible biking
Editor,
I write to express my concern about the recent accident involving a young boy who suffered serious injuries due to over-speeding of a bike rider. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder that road safety should be a paramount concern for our community. While accidents can happen, we must take proactive steps to mitigate such occurrences and ensure the well-being of all road users.
Firstly, it is crucial for bikers, both young and old, to adhere to speed limits and traffic rules. Over-speeding not only endangers the individual but also poses a risk to pedestrians and other vehicles on the road. A sense of responsibility should be instilled in bikers from an early age, emphasizing the importance of following rules for their own safety and that of others.
Secondly, public awareness campaigns can play a significant role in promoting road safety. Workshops, seminars, and school programs can educate bikers about the potential consequences of reckless riding and the value of responsible behaviour. These initiatives should highlight the need for proper safety gear, regular maintenance of bikes, and understanding road signs and signals.
Furthermore, community involvement is key to fostering a culture of road safety. Local authorities, schools, parents, and organizations can collaborate to create safe biking zones and implement stricter measures against those who violate traffic regulations. By working together, we can make our streets safer for everyone.
In addition, investing in infrastructure that supports safe biking can make a substantial difference. Designated bike lanes, well-maintained roads, and proper signage can enhance the overall safety of bikers and reduce the risk of accidents caused by conflicts with motorized vehicles.
Lastly, I urge parents and guardians to take an active role in supervising their children’s biking activities. Ensuring that young bikers understand the importance of road safety and providing proper guidance can go a long way in preventing accidents.
Let us turn this unfortunate incident into an opportunity for positive change. By fostering responsible behaviour, raising awareness, and enhancing our infrastructure, we can create an environment where accidents like these become rare occurrences. Together, we can make our roads safer and protect the well-being of our community members.
Yours etc.,
Manisha M Pala,
Via email
Addressing misconceptions, refuting allegations & defending MCTA’s Stance
Editor,
Upon reading the letter titled, “MCTA’s Unjustified Non-Cooperation Movement” in The Shillong Times, I find it imperative to address the unfounded allegations made by a “concerned parent and teacher,” with a point-by-point rebuttal.
Firstly, concerning the MCTA’s decision to suspend first-semester classes, it is crucial to clarify that our stance is not against the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP). Rather, we have simply requested time to adequately prepare. Many colleges grapple with severe infrastructural deficiencies, a shortage of faculty for skill-based and value-added courses, financial constraints for hiring experts, and an absence of study materials, among other challenges.
The MCTA’s non-cooperation movement is fundamentally a protest against the Vice-Chancellor who bypassed the Academic Council’s authority to unilaterally implement the NEP. The VC’s primary role involves executing directives from the Centre, as he is not involved in teaching undergraduate courses nor is he aware of the grassroots-level implementation challenges.
Point number two raises a critical query: Why were the details of the Academic Council meetings kept behind closed doors? The MCTA has shared the essence of these discussions, but one must ask, if the minutes were made public, would the public truly rally behind the teachers? Frankly, I have my doubts.
Point number three: “Couldn’t the MCTA have knocked on the doors of the Honourable High Court”? If they did, the 1st semester classes would probably begin in 2030, that is how quick the wheels of justice turn.
Point number four: Are the teachers drawing their full salary without taking classes? For your information, college teachers have not been drawing their full salary for almost two decades now. We have been deprived of our allowances because the government has seen it fit to use the money to build world-class infrastructure for our students in Meghalaya. To add to what the concerned parent has pointed out, teachers must not be paid at all. Teaching should be a calling and anyone who decides to become a teacher must don sackcloth and ashes and walk around with a begging bowl. Don’t you understand that we take this stand not just because it’s right, but because it is necessary. How do we teach your children to stand up for what is right when we cannot do so ourselves?
If we chose to play politics, we could easily fall in line with whatever is handed to us, disregarding the welfare of our students. We voice our concerns because we foresee the long-term effect this hurriedly prepared policy will have on our students.
So, until the general public recognises the vital role of teachers and stands with them when their voices are threatened, Meghalaya will continue to lead from the bottom in the education index.
Yours etc.,
Dr.Ellerine Diengdoh,
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
St. Mary’s College, Shillong.
No more delays please
Editor,
Through your esteemed paper, I would like to join hands with other aggrieved parents, in expressing a deep concern over the delay in starting regular classes for the undergraduate courses. As time is a non-replenishable item, students have suffered academically for months together due to the ongoing tussle between the MCTA and NEHU. The Government which finances most part of the salary of college teachers remains indecisive and dares not to act in the interest of the students. The gravity of the situation demands that the Government should emulate the steps taken by former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, when it comes to hard or drastic decisions on matters related to public interest. Government now has to finally decide whether NEP 2020 is to be implemented from this academic year or wait for a few more years or abandon the Policy (but not from the political angle). Many college authorities are equally to be blamed for the delay. They have collected in advance the fees from the students which is meant to meet the teaching expenses for the whole academic session/year. Will they refund the amount due for the months they failed to render the services or is it possible to redeem the precious time lost? One renowned college in the city has played safe by allowing the students to join but hardly any classes are being taken. It is the duty of the management of these institutions to ensure that classes are running smoothly, and if required, they should hire the services of many unemployed highly qualified youth from the open market or rather outsource the services of subjects that they lack the required manpower/expertise in.
Yours etc .,
Concerned Parent
and Student,
Name Withheld on Request
PWD’s abject carelessness
Editor,
A day after the unfortunate and horrific accident that took place near Don Bosco Technical School involving a student and a two wheeler, without wasting time the Public Works Department haphazardly put up so-called speed breakers. Anyone looking at them would understand the manner in which this was done and hastily completed was just to draw a bombastic bill. Instead of what was done, rumble strips or a proper speed breaker would have been better marked with white lines. Looking at the road construction and repair in Meghalaya and Shillong city in particular we sometimes wonder which engineering colleges such PWD engineers qualify from. If this is the way things are done, we hope next time it’s not going to be cars versus cars on that stretch.
Yours etc..
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar,
Via email