Editor,
The news item, reporting 86 POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) registered cases under the Child Welfare Committee, East Khasi Hills between April 2004 and Feb 2025 is indeed an alarming number. The first thing that comes to mind is how safe are our daughters? Even in the 21st century women and girls are still perceived as weak and vulnerable and are therefore subjected to different kinds of abuses of which sexual abuse is rampant.
We need to ask ourselves as to why this is happening in our society? What is it that makes a man commit this demonic act? Are we living in a world filled with people whose conscience is dead? Is the inner voice drowned in the sea of lust? Aren’t such acts examples of a human being’s lack of conscience and morality but one that is filled with ego, pride, a sense of command, power and the inability to perceive women and girls as equal counterparts? Have men stooped so low that in order to satiate their lust they do not care about a girl’s morality.
With time, these crimes have only increased in and around the world. How many victims are provided justice? How many perpetrators of such heinous crimes been punished? If at all perpetrators of such crimes are convicted how severe is the punishment? Is the punishment equivalent to the crime they have committed? While the victim is made to live with this trauma for life her violator would either be at large and going about his daily life. Why is this so? Isn’t it because our legal system was, has and perhaps is liberal with the perpetrators of such devilish acts? At times there are no arrests made and even if the culprit is arrested the process is usually too slow or he gets bail, goes home, lives a normal life with no remorse for the crime he committed. Will he then not commit many more crimes and offences? After all, why and who should he fear?
The alarming number implies that conviction is less and the punishment does not act as a deterrent to help curb and put a stop to such demonic acts. Low conviction rates is an important cause that acts as an encouragement for others. Laws must be stringent and tough on a criminal no matter how close he may be to the family or how resourceful and influential.
As a woman, a mother and a responsible member of the society, I yearn that my fellow human beings should become more conscientious and ethical. We must educate our children, especially our boys, to take the path of righteousness. We must realise that this crime must be stopped. Can we live in peace without fear and insecurity? We sure can if we choose to.
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Sohra’s Tourism Dreams Dimmed by Power Outages
Editor,
Sohra, with its misty landscapes, living root bridges, and dramatic waterfalls, remains one of India’s most breathtaking destinations. The government’s efforts to uplift Sohra as a must-visit place deserve genuine appreciation. New tourism initiatives have brought visibility and opportunities to this once-quiet corner of Meghalaya. However, recent events have cast a shadow over these achievements. For the past four days, parts of Sohra have been grappling with a complete power outage. In a region aiming to build its future around tourism, the lack of basic amenities like electricity is not just an inconvenience — it is a serious setback. A recent review posted by a tourist on an online homestay booking platform sums up the situation starkly: “No power, no hot water, no tea.” The impact was immediate, affecting the reputation of a homestay that, like many others, relies heavily on positive guest experiences.
In the service industry, where the product is largely intangible, online reviews play a crucial role in shaping public perception. When basic services fail, it reflects not only on individual businesses but on Sohra’s tourism promise as a whole. Tourism is more than a business opportunity here; for most locals, it is the only source of livelihood. The closure of the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) plant — once a major employer — due to multiple challenges, as reported across news outlets, has already strained the local economy. In this context, protecting and nurturing the tourism sector becomes even more critical. While some homestay owners have considered purchasing diesel generator (DG) sets to cope with the outages, it is a costly affair for many. The high upfront cost of buying a generator, coupled with the daily operational expenses for fuel and maintenance, makes it an unsustainable solution for small businesses struggling to stay afloat.
We respectfully request the government’s urgent intervention in resolving the ongoing power crisis. If Sohra is to continue thriving as a premier destination and sustain the livelihoods of its people, consistent access to basic infrastructure is non-negotiable. Sohra’s beauty and potential are undeniable. It now needs the strong, dependable support of systems that match its natural greatness.
Yours etc.,
Kitdor M Hynniewta,
Via email
Pahalgam Violence and thereafter
Editor,
It has been heartbreaking to learn about the senseless violence targeting Hindus, both in Kashmir (Pahalgam), and Bengal (Murshidabad and Malda). Described as an act of terrorism, the cold-blooded murder of innocent tourists (mostly Indian), execution style, in Pahalgam — in what BBC describes as a “hail of gunfire” — is beyond abhorrent. In Bengal — besides killing some, and displacing many, the Islamic attackers also desecrated at least one Kali temple. I mention this — not because the destruction of a temple is more important than that of lives (lives should matter more) — but because this selective destruction points to religious fanaticism as part of the problem, even though the immediate cause of the Bengal violence was protest of the Waqf Amendment Act. Unfortunately, Goddess Kali tends to draw the ire of religious zealots from both Islam and Christianity. Given the breakdown of law and order, Bengali Hindu victims are asking for President’s rule for their state.
One can only hope fervently that this deliberate targeting of Hindus will not lead to mass scale Hindu-Muslim riots in India. Those who commit such violence, may wear the garb of religion. But really — they belong to a tribe all their own. One can only hope that irate Hindus will not tar all Muslims with the same brush — but remember Syed Adil Hussain Shah, the slain “ponywalla,” who died trying to save tourists during the Pahalgam attack. One can only hope these tragic incidents will not embolden Hindu fundamentalists to seek vengeance.
All who are proven guilty should be arrested and prosecuted with the full force of the law, in proper courts of law — not extrajudicial kangaroo courts, with bulldozer justice.
Yours etc.,
Deepa Majumdar
Via email