Editor,
I write this not just as a concerned citizen of Shillong, but as a heartbroken one. Born and raised in this beautiful city, amidst the simplicity and God-fearing spirit of the Khasi community, I am witnessing its gradual decay. The stretch from Police Bazaar Point towards HDFC Bank and Pegasus Crown Hotel, all the way to Wards Lake and Oakland, has become a haven for prostitution and drugs. It’s morphed into the new red-light area, staining the very fabric of our “so-called” beautiful city.
Forget walking with your family or children – even driving through this area has become an ordeal during evenings. And the most infuriating part? The whole system seems to be involved in this racket. Hotels, including the supposedly prestigious ones turn a blind eye and conveniently gives rooms to these people by the hour. The police? They take bribes and choose to look the other way.
This depravity unfolds right under the noses of a CRPF team stationed there every evening! As a responsible citizen, I did my digging being a freelance photographer and journalist. The police, it seems, are reluctant to arrest these girls, transgenders, or even their pimps. Why? Because the moment they do, a swarm of human rights groups and NGOs descend upon the police station, securing their immediate release. They say they are helpless as it becomes a matter of saving their jobs due to the pressure from above.
What kind of a world are we living in? Has our Khasi community, with its cherished values of ‘Hynniewtrep’ and ‘Jaidbynriew,’ fallen to this level? Can’t we, the concerned citizens, do something?
Our silence is deafening.
And where are the NGOs who claim to fight for our well-being? The KSU, HYC, and FKJGP – are they blind to the dangers our children face? Why is there no outrage from them on this critical issue? I implore the leaders of these organizations to wake up and take immediate action to eradicate this prostitution menace from the heart of our city.
Let me also remind our esteemed Social Welfare Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, of his commendable initiative to remove hawkers from Police Bazar. Surely, with the power he wields in the current Government, he can take stringent steps to dismantle this nuisance as well.
This is a call to action. Let us clean our streets of this filth. Those who profit from this – people and businesses alike – must be severely punished. Shillong, our pride, deserves better. We, the citizens, deserve a city free from drugs, prostitution, and the indifference that allows them to flourish. Let us reclaim Shillong’s lost glory!
Yours etc.,
Donbok J Massar,
Via email
CUET & NEET should be conducted professionally
Editor,
Through the columns of your newspaper, I would like to share the problems that have been faced by many students, myself included. Meghalaya was known as one of the states with the best education system in the country. As years passed, the system changed. The Education Department brought many changes in the field of education but whether these changes have helped us is another matter.
These past few months have been very hectic for us students. The sudden implementation of the 4 years bachelor’s undergraduate course and the introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) have added to our trauma because it is also very poorly and unprofessionally conducted.
Just after a month after their Boards exams, students are bound to study even more in order to get admissions in the colleges/universities they seek admissions to. The hard work put in by a student in the Boards examination does not matter anymore because the admission is based on the CUET scores. However, that is not the only problem. The real problem is the lack of order and discipline in the examination centres across the state. It has not only brought tears and disappointment to the students but has also hit their morale.
The first and second day of the CUET have been very unpleasant for the students appearing for the examination. The centres did not have proper utilities and the examinations could not be conducted on time due to the carelessness of the officials. This was a great reason for the upsetting situation.
As students we can only hope that in future this important national level entrance test is conducted with greater professionalism and with least harassment to students and their parents. I also hope that those sitting in the Education Department headed by the State Education Minister will read this letter and address the problems faced by us students. They need to act with empathy for the student community and also feel the pain experienced by students writing the CUET exams.
Yours etc.,
Christina M. Sangma
Via email