Mawkhar Church Committee: An unholy scam?
Editor,
As usual I went for my Sunday service at Mawkhar Church and part of the service order is the church announcement by the elder of the church for scrapping the Sohmylleng mission. So I went back home to check the church report and I was shocked to find some inconvenient questions. Firstly, as announced, the evangelising mission started in 2010 and in 2012 the school, as a means of evangelism, was started from Nursery to Class III. Then after a year or so the church committee found out that all the residents of Sohmylleng belong to the Roman Catholic church. Thus, it poses a question, as to why did the Church Committee waited for 9 years to inform the members of the Church that the residents are Christians? Had they informed the members back in 2014 or 2015 then the school could have been stopped at class III and crores of rupees of church members’ money would not have been wasted. Now, the church members are emotionally blackmailed to support the school as it has reached Class X. This is also in direct contradiction to the statement made by the church in the reports 2011 to 2017 that the mission is to evangelise the people through the school. But they continued the school till now and the burden is on the poor members who would have to support the school through their hard earned money and who didn’t get any opportunity to question this matter.
In the Presbyterian church, the members have a say in important matters of the church but this wasn’t done. What did the church elders and the pastors gain by hiding the truth from the church members that they failed the mission in 2013 and didn’t dare to publicly declare?
Furthermore, massive plots of land were bought but not mentioned in the announcement. The Sohmylleng funds have also been converted to education funds highlighting the earthly way of operational style by changing the name of the fund but eventually the money would still go to the Sohmylleng school. From the style of functioning it appears that the church subsists only from the tithes of the church elders and pastors and not of the thousands of church members’ financial support.
The financial liabilities are atrocious. The church elder finally announced that the financial status shall be reported once the auditing is done. Outrageously, it means the church has not been registered under any Society act under the law which can be inferred that the church hasn’t obtained tax exemption and nor has its paid any tax. If this is the case, doesn’t it mean that the church that receives tithes in lakhs of rupees per week is evading taxes? It may lead to serious legal repercussions if the Income Tax department decides to take legal action.
As in the past, serious matters in the church are conducted by the general meeting of church members. However, for 2 years now there has not been any initiative by the church committee to update and discuss the missing money case of more than Rs 4 crores and the much controversial Sohmylleng mission with the church members. We as church members are at a loss at what the leaders of the church are doing behind our backs. Our opinions and suggestions are not valuable except our hard earned money as tithes. We can only pray for God’s judgement on the church committee.
Yours etc.,
Vesuvius Diengdoh,
Via email
Railways indispensable for petroleum transport
Editor,
The recent threat by the North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union to suspend transport of fuel to Meghalaya, since some of its members were arrested for alleged involvement in pilferage of fuel, once again brings to the fore the need for more efficient transport services for fuel and other commodities into the state. The dependency on road transport for delivery of petroleum to numerous dispensing fuel pumps in the state has brought along with it several challenges including fuel theft and adulteration. Besides, this is not the first time that the Mazdoor Union has called for a strike in transport of fuel into our state. This reliance on transport of fuel by tankers from outside the state has exposed our weakness in the transport sector, leaving us at the mercy of such Unions, at times creating unwarranted traffic snarls in Shillong city whenever there is a call for fuel strike.
Besides the vulnerability of tankers and other cargo trucks to extortion by certain organisations or pressure groups has further compounded the problem which eventually affects the common man. That certain groups are tooth and nail against the introduction of goods train into the state is but a ploy to be able to continue their iniquitous act at the cost of the ‘jaidbynriew’ who ,anyway, have never given these pressure groups the required mandate to represent them. The Government should, therefore, focus on the bigger picture and give the go ahead for goods trains into the state for the benefit of its inhabitants and thereby put an end once and for all such strike threats and other illegal acts carried out by different groups or unions with vested interests.
Yours etc.,
Stanley LK Diengdoh
Dymmu, Upper Nongjri,
Umsning
Abuse of Power
Editor,
It saddens me to recount a horrible episode in which one traffic cop abused his authority, leaving me perplexed about the ethical code of conduct displayed by such traffic police. The incident involved a traffic cop allegedly engaging in excessive use of force, verbal abuse, and unfair targeting of a civilian. The said incident occurred in Madanrting on December 13, 2023 at around 8:00 P.M., where I had parked my car near the roadside to carry my groceries from one shop. It may be mentioned that the shop owner provides a parking space for customers, and I parked my car there, ensuring that I did not block the free flow of traffic. However, the haughty traffic officer hit my car and threatened to clamp it, and he used violent and harsh words, compelling me to pay a fine of Rs 1,000. The unwanted action of such police personnel not only undermines the trust between law enforcement officials and the community but also raises questions about the professionalism and ethics of traffic police.
Traffic police are instrumental in managing the complex dynamics of traffic flow, particularly in densely populated urban areas. Traffic Police Department plays a vital role in promoting road safety, maintaining order, and ensuring the efficient functioning of road networks. Their efforts contribute to the well-being and security of the community, making them an indispensable part of law enforcement and public safety. I understand that traffic police personnel have a challenging job and I also appreciate the importance of traffic police in enforcing traffic laws for the safety of the community, but it is also essential that they approach their duties with professionalism and respect for the individuals they interact with. It is crucial for our community to have faith in the integrity and fairness of our law enforcement, especially those tasked with ensuring road safety. Instances of abuse of power not only tarnish the reputation of the department but also erode the public’s trust in the system.
Law enforcement personnel are entrusted with the responsibility of upholding justice, maintaining public order, and ensuring the safety of the communities they serve. While majority of traffic police personnel fulfil their duties with dedication and integrity, instances of such bad behaviour among law enforcement personnel are a grave cause for concern. The psychological toll on individuals who experience or witness such bad behaviour of traffic police personnel can lead to a loss of faith in the justice system and contribute to a negative perception of law enforcement as a whole. This use of force seemed disproportionate to the circumstances and raises concerns about the traffic police’s arbitrary use of force and lack of professionalism.
Yours etc.,
William Kharkongor,
Shillong -21