Stop the irrational bashing of MCTA
Editor,
It would be best if people start looking at things objectively, but most importantly to look at things morally and upholding principles before carelessly expressing themselves. MCTA bashing has not waned, and if we take a look at the long list of democratic and principled movements in history, those that stand on the right side have been bashed relentlessly, but they persisted and prevailed. On being accused of jeopardising the future of students, it should be remembered that teachers can teach whatever is thrown at them, but it is not the nature of teachers to throw students under the bus or ask them to cross a half- built bridge. If you are to blame anyone for jeopardising the future of students blame the NEHU VC for not being honest and sincere enough to prepare all the things required before imposing the NEP. Teachers will keep doing what they do, but what about the students who will wish to exit after the first year and require internship, for which no preparation has been made? With regards to the minutes of the meeting of the Academic Council, the MCTA could do so and may well be preparing to do so, but already in an interview with fore-front media Professor Kma, who is a member of the Academic Council, not an MCTA member, had categorically stated that there was no decision to implement NEP this academic session, and that the implementation would actually be deferred, exposing the VC’s lies.
With regards to the suggestion to go the legal way, it should be remembered that we do not have the time. While the MCTA will be able to sustain the often long legal proceedings and such, as already proven in the past, the first batch of students would definitely suffer and be nothing more than guinea pigs and lab rats, they will suffer. That is why I am convinced that the MCTA did not take the legal route. With regards to the unprincipled accusation that teachers are drawing salary without taking the required number of classes, I would suggest that people keep abreast with what is happening on the ground. MCTA teachers have taken classes, even before all this craziness, and are taking classes as per the LEGITIMATE 2015 Semester System! And by the way, the MCTA by going for the NCM has engaged itself in Practical Value Education: setting an example to students to never follow orders without questioning the moral and institutional integrity of such orders; and to challenge and oppose orders which are illegitimate, careless and callous!
Need I remind the readers of how teachers were actively involved in JP’s Total Revolution, in the protest against draconian diktats of despots? Government notification forcing teachers to follow the NEP would only prove the despotic and shameless nature of those in favour of hasty execution of policy, and their blatant regard for sense and reason, justice and democracy; making the government of the day no different from fascist Italy or Nazi Germany!! In fact, if we are to listen to sense, the MCTA has gone to great lengths to ensure that the career of students is not affected, not only immediately but in the long run!
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Discrimination of the 21st century
Editor,
Recently a viral video has been circulated by many of the news channels in Shillong regarding the clamping of tourist taxis by Traffic Police and public agitation on account of that. The crux behind this agitation was that the police who used to patrol on this stretch was unable to respond to a query as to why the discrimination between the commercial vehicles and private vehicles, since most of the prohibitions like ‘No Parking’ were applicable only for commercial vehicles or tourist taxis.
The writer does not hold any ill will against private vehicles, but the sole purpose of this specific content was to treat all citizen as equal whether he is driving a local taxi, an auto or a luxury vehicle. The constitution of India guarantees that, as per the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, PART III, under the Article 15 the Right to Equality which states that “(b) the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public. Now the question is put forward to the Sadar Police station if that particular place located next to the old Assembly building is reserved for VIPs and other private vehicles why are commercial vehicles not allowed to park there. All four-wheeled vehicles take the same amount of space.
I therefore urge upon the MLA of North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum to take this matter as a priority since these incidents are happening under his Constituency. I would be very much obliged if this matter is resolved amicably since it concerns the livelihoods of the professional drivers.
Yours etc.,
Willibertstar Diengdoh
Via email
Will Shillong ever learn?
Editor,
I live in a small locality near the Wah Thangsniang which is a part of the Wah Umkhrah river. I grew up surrounded by trees but now all I see are people building on the river bed cutting down the pines trees which have been there for decades which are crucial for holding the soil together. One of my neighbours has built on the river bed itself causing the river to overflow from its banks, I see people throwing small packets of garbage out of their windows into the stream because they could not be bothered to throw garbage on the garbage trucks. They also throw empty alcohol bottles into the once ferocious Wah Thangsniang. It is not just my little corner of the world that does this but everywhere we go we can see people building so close to the river that there is a danger of the soil loosening and slipping into the water each time it rains heavily. We have seen how people are dangerously affected by floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and other mountainous regions of India. Even in the plains of India people are heavily affected due to improper drainage systems and the most important reason is building on river banks. We throw rubbish and bottles into the streams thinking they will be carried off but in reality, they get stuck in between the rocks and soil and fallen trees along the river which causes a blockage, and the river banks will overflow leading to massive soil erosion since there are no trees alongside but only buildings. Hence we are the ones who are in danger; we are the ones who get affected. We pray to God to shelter us from the storm but God helps those who help themselves so if we continue to keep building on the river banks, cutting down trees that should be kept, throwing our rubbish into the streams, leaving our environment naked, then calamities are bound to hit us too. So will Shillong ever learn from other states? Or will we wait until it happens to us to realize that we are at fault?
The point I’m trying to make is that perhaps it’s time to give up being stubborn and curb our greed and also realise that there is no God to help us in certain situations that we have created for ourselves. We should learn to help ourselves and learn from other states that have gone through the trauma and loss of landslides and floods.
Yours etc.,
Shailin H Lyngdoh,
Shillong -11