Editor,
I am “punch drunk”, not from the recently concluded festivities, but from the front-page report of ST dated Jan 13, 2024 headlined “Laitumkhrah hawkers may be shifted by Feb”. Before throwing the final punch in February, I would humbly urge the Honourable Minister and people’s representative of the constituency, to revisit the decision.
Lady Veronica Lane has evolved from a dark, bladder relieving lane to a vibrant walking alternative for hundreds of school and college going students and their families, for accessing the many educational institutions located around Don Bosco Square. These include a large number of students with disabilities using white canes, wheelchairs and many depending on visual inputs for walking. Also using the space are numerous people with eye problems (especially the elderly) who avail of services provided by Bansara Eyecare Centre and many, who attend workshops and meetings organised at “The Habitat,” Asian Confluence.
Access to public spaces and services on an equal basis with others is a fundamental right. The right to safe and secure livelihoods is as important as the right to safe and secure access. When the drain along the lane was covered, we were given the impression that this would be an accessible safe space for the public, particularly for persons with disabilities and the elderly. With the proposed intervention; humans, cars, NCC vehicles, mini-trucks and taxis carrying vegetables, two wheelers (coming from both directions), local dogs and occasionally rats as big as cats; will be competing for the available space on the narrow road.
Concerned institutional residents of Lady Veronica Lane have approached the local authorities, including a visit and written representation to the Minister and local MLA and to the Chief Minister, raising safety issues for pedestrians, when the proposal of shifting street vendors was announced. It seems as if the problem has been shifted from one footpath to another, except now it will be hidden from the main street. The safety of vulnerable pedestrians will be compromised! A dialogue with public stakeholders would be apt!
Yours etc.,
Carmo Noronha,
Via email
Sky, Earth and Water! Mesmerizing Meghalaya!!
Editor,
(Lots of happy and few sad memories)
No wonder the Swiss call their land – “Meghalaya of Europe ” and Indians call it as – “Switzerland of Asia ” . . . Meghalaya, halfway to heaven!
Bhumi-Jal-Agni-Vayu-Aakash, the five basic elements of this universe are what Meghalaya has in its purest form and in abundance! (One can write so much just about the Rocks of Meghalaya!!)
From ever changing shades of blue sky that you cannot encompass in both eyes, the huge plateau of Mawrah with vast grasslands in various shades of green and brown, enormous mountain ranges of east Khasi Hills, gigantic rocks in numerous shapes and shades of grey, black, white, brown, pink and beige to the pristine waters of Dawki lake, Meghalaya is truly half way to heaven. The state is a home to some of the longest and most complex cave systems in the world too.
All such beautiful memories!
But there are a few sad memories: It is so painful to see nature’s heavenly gift being destroyed by men. As one drives across Meghalaya, one cannot simply stop wondering in pain to see massive mining / cutting of those beautiful mountains.
There is a stretch of around 25-30 kms, starting from Amalarem village towards Dawki river and then another 15 to 20 kms, from Dawki to Mawlynnong, the entire road is full of heavy trucks over-loaded with tons of rocks cut from various mountains. (Actually, this pathetic mountain cutting is everywhere)
We counted around 1800 trucks as we drove along with roads in one stretch. Willie, our driver, shared that these trucks are active 24×7. If this continues, I doubt anyone can see any of those mountains in the next 5 years from today.
The roads are pathetic in this patch. If tourism increases to even half of what many other popular tourist cities of India have, it would be impossible to drive safely along those Dawki roads
Hope the State Government takes this God-gifted nature seriously or in the next five years, there won’t be any mountains at all in Meghalaya!
Yours etc.,
Rotarians Yashodhara and Atul Bhide
Rotary Club of Thane Hills, Pune
Case of good cop, bad cop
Editor,
A few nights ago in Nongrimmaw Block C, a white Jeep with black tinted windows was parked in the middle of the road. Not only was the Jeep parked there but they were also blasting music and shouting vulgar abuse. Naturally, the cops were called and to our surprise they did respond very quickly and worked diligently. The only thing was that they arrived too late due to their inability to find our locality.
Again two nights ago a distant neighbour had brought over some friends and they were drinking and peeing all over the road and wall of my house. They were talking so loudly that we had to call the cops again and yet again they got lost. Why? Because they didn’t know how to get from the Police station in Beat house to Nongrimmaw which is just a 10-minute walk for a fit person. Even though we were all proud of our cops for arriving and picking up the phone we were also angry because not only did they confuse Nongrimmaw for Nongrim Hills and Nongrimbah but they were also scared of the boys who were creating a nuisance.
So the question is – why don’t our cops know where Nongrimmaw or any other place under their jurisdiction is?
Why do we have to stand outside while these hooligans are creating a nuisance to give our cops directions?
Police officers in Mumbai know the ins and outs of not only their district but of the other districts as well.
In a huge city like Mumbai where there are dozens of small lanes and streets. If a cop at the end of Bombay knows the ins and outs of a tiny lane in the centre of Bombay, why can’t a cop from Laitumkhrah Beat House know how to get to a locality that is situated only 10 minutes away.
The reason our cops flunder like this is because whoever is in charge of their training does not seem to care about teaching them the geography of the place.
Recently I overheard a very senior police officer telling his friends and I quote ” I don’t even need to do any work, I just come show my face sign a few papers and I’m done.” On the other hand, there’s another police officer I know who is almost equally at the same rank as the one I mentioned above. She has to do the work of not only her bosses who take these leaves or turn up late to the office but also of the junior cops. A few months ago I saw her doing the work of junior traffic cops instead of her work. She’s quite senior in rank and is about to retire, yet she has to do work that is below her rank.
So when we take all of that into consideration, are the cops who are like the first cop I mentioned, capable of being cops? Do they even remember why they became cops in the first place?
Even though they pick up the phone and come when we call them they’re still lacking in demeanour. And the reason for all this is because their bosses are people who don’t even bother to come to work while the ones that do report for work diligently are so overburdened that they don’t even have time to sit!
In this scenario who would want to become a cop? There’s no enthusiasm, no encouragement because all that the junior officers are seeing are either the bad cops or the good cops and none of them are appealing to the aspiring police officers.
The seniors are too lazy to even turn up for work while the others are too overworked and tired to even tolerate the juniors so where does this leave us? It’s a case of good cop, bad cop and no one in between.
I am writing this out of concern and mean no offence to anyone. The people and places I’ve mentioned are known to me. The facts are all true and nothing has been doctored to cast a bad light on the Police Department of Meghalaya. I know of some cops who slog through the day but others who take life easy. The Police Department in general has to [provide more in-service training, especially on quick response time. Above all a cop posted at Police Beat House has to know every nook and cranny in Laitumkhrah. There’s no excuse for poor knowledge of geography.
Yours etc.
Shailin H.Lyngdoh
Shillong -3