Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to express my deep concern over the indifferent attitude of the government in blocking all posts for architects across various departments. This prolonged inaction has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of thousands of architecture graduates and postgraduates, many of whom are now nearing or have already crossed the age limit for government employment. While public sector opportunities remain closed, the government continues to award major design and planning contracts for public projects to private firms. These firms, in turn, employ architecture graduates on a purely contractual basis with meagre pay, heavy workloads, and grand promises that rarely materialise into fair treatment or career growth. This situation is not only unjust to qualified professionals but also a waste of local talent, as these young minds are forced to either work under exploitative conditions or seek employment outside the state.
The question that arises is – Where does the accountability of the government lie? If public funds can be used to pay private contractors, why cannot the same funds be utilised to create permanent architect positions within government departments? Such negligence risks an entire generation’s professional aspirations, undermining both the architectural sector and the public infrastructure it serves. It is high time the government took proactive steps to lift the freeze on architect posts, initiate transparent recruitment drives, and ensure fair working conditions for all qualified professionals.
Government departments, which should ideally be the primary employers and nurturers of this talent, have blocked or left vacant sanctioned architect posts for years. This raises a pressing question: If the State already has a pool of trained, local architects eager to serve, why is their potential being overlooked in favour of outsourcing?
This is not merely an employment issue; it is a question of justice, efficiency, and the State’s commitment to harnessing its own talent. By sidelining our own graduates, we not only waste years of education and public investment but also dampen the aspirations of an entire generation.
I therefore urge the Government to: 1. Immediately unfreeze and fill all sanctioned architect posts in various departments through transparent recruitment. 2. Review and relax the age bar for candidates affected by prolonged vacancy of posts. 3. Prioritise local architect graduates and postgraduates in government projects instead of outsourcing to private firms. 4. Establish clear career pathways for architecture professionals within the State service to retain and develop talent.
This intervention by the Chief Minister could restore hope to hundreds of unemployed architects and ensure that Meghalaya’s infrastructure reflects the skill, vision, and identity of its own people. I trust that the Government will give this matter the urgent attention it deserves.
Yours etc.,
HT Wells,
Shillong-2
Drug addiction needs timely intervention
Editor,
Apropos to the news item published in The Shillong Times on August 10, 2025 regarding drug use in Meghalaya by young children beginning as early as age 10, I wish to express my deep concern for the future of our youth.
During my tenure as a Headmaster, I have witnessed the commendable efforts of the police department in organising regular awareness programmes—not only in schools but also across different localities of Tura. Similar initiatives are being undertaken in other major towns of Meghalaya, complemented by the establishment of rehabilitation centres and periodic police action against drug peddlers. However, these efforts, though laudable, need to be further intensified and extended to every vulnerable town and locality so that no community is left unprotected from this menace. The need for stronger, sustained, and coordinated action is more urgent than ever. Yet, the problem persists. Just recently, a school named Simsang Bokmangre SSA UP School in South Garo Hills was in the news for suspected misuse of its premises by drug addicts. Such incidents compel us to ask: despite awareness drives, rehab facilities, and law enforcement action, why does this scourge continue to spread?
In this context, the initiative of the Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM) is particularly noteworthy. The recent meeting between DREAM and members of various Seng Samla Shnongs at the U Soso Tham Auditorium in Shillong represents a vital step forward. DREAM not only appreciated the growing youth-led efforts in apprehending drug users and facilitating rehabilitation but also emphasised the need for structured, professional intervention. By bringing in trained counsellors to work directly with youth volunteers, DREAM is equipping them with the skills to handle addiction-related situations safely and address the psychological dimensions of substance abuse—thus safeguarding both those affected and those assisting on the ground.
It is time for all stakeholders—parents, teachers, community leaders, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers—to unite, identify gaps, and strengthen these collaborative efforts. Awareness alone will not suffice; prevention, early intervention, and strict deterrents must go hand in hand.
Our children’s future and the safety of our society depend on how decisively we act today.
Yours etc.,
Jairaj Chhetry,
Tura
Parking spaces cannot be compromised
Editor,
I cannot help but agree with B. Dutta’s letter: “Back to turning roads into parking lots.” I had always been very vocal about the need for hawkers to have designated spaces of their own to trade freely without spreading their wares at footpaths, corners, all possible spaces and even on the road. However, I was equally vocal that parking lots cannot be designated vending zones for the obvious reason that the size of the road is still the same while the number of cars hitting the same roads are on the increase on a daily basis. The attempt to convert parking lots into vending zones was contemplated by the government for a very long time and it has materialised this time. Though the government has made a start with Khyndai Lad and few hawkers have been provided with stalls at the MUDA parking lot but parking lots are no solution. Chargeable street parking will not be able to cater to the numerous vehicles in the town besides the fact that the parking fee is equally high.
It would indeed be a matter of time before chaos and mayhem emerges. Agreeing with B. Dutta, many more multi-storied parking lots should be constructed in order to decongest the roads and allow for a smooth movement of vehicles. For those at the helm of affairs, who face no traffic jams nor require proper space to park their vehicles, the best possible space to relocate the hawkers to, are parking lots but certainly not for us the general populace. As a suggestion, if the government could speed up the matter of relocation of the residents of the Sweepers Lane to the Shillong Municipal Board land at Bivar Road without any further delay and establish the area as a designated vending zone, being a market place the hawkers would be able to carry on their business more comfortably and profitably.
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email