Police inefficiency or intentional lapse?
Editor,
The news of bail being granted to the accused in connection with the murder of an innocent non-tribal labourer at Mawlai, Mawroh is a testimony of the sordid criminal justice system prevailing in Meghalaya for decades. The accused was released on bail not on evidence of innocence but due to utter failure of the investigating agency to file the charge-sheet within the stipulated period. Does it mean that the accused was arrested without any evidence and as such no charge could be framed against him? Or there was evidence of culpability against the accused but the investigating agency deliberately preferred to ‘go slow’ for obvious reasons? Is the progress of such cases of heinous crimes not monitored by the higher-ups in the police department or by the State Home Ministry to ensure that a charge sheet is filed within the stipulated time? From the chronology of events in the instant murder case, it is obvious that the arrest was a mere eye-wash rather than an attempt to punish the culprit/s and deliver justice to the victim’s family. This case will go into oblivion like scores of other similar unresolved cases of murder and other violent acts perpetrated against non-tribals in Meghalaya where getting justice was and still is a far cry for them.
Your etc.,
D. Bhattacharjee
Shillong- 1
Concerns regarding the quality of films on Hello Meghalaya OTT platform
Editor,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the current state of the Hello Meghalaya OTT platform, which launched almost two months ago with the aim of promoting local cinema. While the platform had the potential to be a transformative space for our film industry, it has, unfortunately, fallen short of expectations. The quality of films streaming on the platform is disappointing, with little distinction between older and newer releases. This not only raises questions about the overall development of filmmaking in Meghalaya but also suggests that we have a significant journey ahead to improve both the content and its presentation.
What is especially troubling is the absence of films by some of our state’s most respected filmmakers—directors like Pradip Kurbah, Dominic Sangma, and Wanphrang Diengdoh, whose work has garnered recognition at both national and international levels. Instead of showcasing these acclaimed films, the platform features content that, frankly, does not do justice to the immense potential of our local cinema. As a result, audiences from outside Meghalaya are left watching substandard films, which unfortunately do not reflect the true creative spirit of our filmmakers. This misrepresentation risks painting an unflattering image of Meghalaya’s cinema.
One wonders if there is an established committee that reviews and selects the films before they are streamed. If such a committee exists, its approach appears biased or inadequately discerning. A government-backed platform like Hello Meghalaya has a responsibility to represent the best of our state’s filmmaking talent, yet it seems to be missing an opportunity to do so. Why aren’t films that have proven their merit in the national and international circuits being highlighted? The exclusion of such films diminishes the platform’s credibility.
It is crucial that Hello Meghalaya takes steps to correct this by being more open and transparent in its film selection process. The platform should strive to uplift and showcase films that reflect not only the technical capabilities of our filmmakers but also their artistic growth and storytelling finesse. Good content exists within our borders, and it deserves to be seen and celebrated.
By prioritizing quality over quantity, Hello Meghalaya can serve as a true cultural ambassador for our state, helping to elevate Meghalaya’s cinema to new heights. I hope this issue is taken seriously, as the future of our local film industry depends on how we choose to present it to the world.
Yours etc.,
Damang Kharbuli
Shillong -3
Aadhaar vis-a-vis Meghalaya!
Editor,
Just last month, social activist, GM Sangma of South Garo Hills district has broached a very pertinent matter relating to the controversial enactment of the Aadhaar regimen in South Garo Hills district in particular and Meghalaya in general. In this context, this petitioner had shot a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of his district concerning how manifold government departments in South Garo Hills are denying the citizens their respective social benefits like issuance of job cards, school admissions, opening of bank accounts and much else for not possessing Aadhaar cards. Additionally, Sangma has gone on record stating that such officially created obstacles have landed the hoi polloi in the welter of obfuscation as the enforcement of Aadhaar, Sangma emphasized, is diametrically in contravention of the Supreme Court ruling and Aadhaar Act that has in absolute terms exempted Meghalaya, Assam and Jammu & Kashmir from the domain of Aadhaar enrolment! Hence, Sangma has urged the DC in question to circulate statutory guidelines to all existing government departments not to turn down assigned societal beneficiary schemes/services to anyone who does not own an Aadhaar authentication, but to instead accept alternative identifications like EPIC, birth certificate and other relatable authentic documents.
Taking all things into consideration, Sangma must be unequivocally complimented for bringing to the fore such a pivotal question which has had far reaching consequences on the society at large. Perhaps, the said complainant must have been keenly aware of the Notification circulated by the Central government, Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) vide Notification No.37/2017 F.370133/6/2017-TPL dated 11.5.2017,denoting therein that Meghalaya has been exempted from the purview of Aadhaar ecosystem.
Conversely, such sense of foreboding amongst the Hynñiewtrep society has evidently tempered substantively thereby empowering the powers that be to coerce us into Aadhaar compulsion, willy-nilly. Thus, even for obtaining cooking gas cylinders the distributing agencies are bidding the applicants to produce an Aadhaar card. And tribal students are bulldozed to undergo Aadhaar biometric authentication process for receiving their entitled scholarship funds; I, for one, am bemused as to why the Khasi Students’ Union which have avowedly been championing the grievances of their fellow kindreds are maintaining an inarticulate stance over the students’ disgruntlement on scholarships!
It may perhaps be in fitness of things to recall that when late Rev. PBM Basaiawmoit, a prominent personality and a minority rights activist of Meghalaya, was alive I was given to understand that he was largely instrumental in resolutely contending against the enforcement of Aadhaar in Meghalaya, forewarning us of the imperceivable designs of Aadhaar regimes. Regrettably, post his demise on February 9, 2022, that unwavering spirit of righteousness has seemingly petered out amongst us. Perhaps, late Basawiamoit must have taken into cognizance the caveat of some far-sighted intelligentsia, who had opined that opting for Aadhaar could veritably turn us into a dog under an electronic leash! In fine, Basawiamoit’s apprehension may perchance ring true in the fulness of time.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh,
Shillong-2