Editor,
Recent examinations conducted by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) have raised serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of competitive testing, particularly in certain district centres such as West Jaintia Hills. Reports have surfaced that in exams for posts like Junior Co-operative Officer (JCO), Inspector of Statistics, many candidates allegedly used mobile phones and other unfair methods inside the examination halls.
For years, MPSC exams were held only in Shillong, known for its strict monitoring and disciplined environment. With the intention of making the process more accessible, the Commission expanded centres to other districts, including West Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills. While the goal was equal opportunity, evidence now suggests that the expansion has unintentionally created gaps in supervision and opened doors to malpractice.
Eyewitness accounts claim that candidates managed to carry and use mobile phones inside exam halls to search answers and communicate. Disturbingly, it is alleged that some invigilators themselves facilitated this activity, reportedly acting as intermediaries by collecting phones before security checks and then returning them once candidates were inside the hall. There are also concerns that some invigilators were closely related to candidates, raising questions of conflict of interest.
Although multiple individuals are aware of these practices, they lack concrete proof such as photos or videos, partly due to fear of intimidation and retaliation if they speak publicly. In smaller communities, where familiarity and influence run deep, raising concerns can expose individuals to threats or pressure. Silence should not be misinterpreted as absence of wrongdoing.
These allegations strike at the heart of merit and fairness. When cheating is allowed to flourish, sincere aspirants who study diligently and attempt exams in strictly monitored centres like Shillong are unfairly disadvantaged. Competitive examinations shape the future of public service in Meghalaya. If the process becomes compromised, the credibility of recruitment collapses and public trust is lost.
To protect the integrity of the system, MPSC and the Government must urgently enforce stronger measures, including:
Full checking for all individuals entering exam premises, including invigilators.
A complete ban on mobile phones and electronic devices.
Verification to ensure invigilators are not related to candidates.
Internet restrictions and use of jammers in examination zones.
CCTV surveillance and independent observers.
Strict action and transparent investigation wherever malpractice is reported.
Meghalaya’s youth deserve a system where hard work and honesty—not privilege or manipulation—determine success. The future of public service must be built on integrity.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
How Road Safety Measures Should Be Implemented
Editor,
The news report “NEHU intensifies safety measures after car hit case” published in ST Nov, 29th actually shows how road safety measures are just knee jerk reactions instead of scientifically addressing them. The tragic on-campus accident where two young students were seriously injured due to drunk driving reflects how low we are on driving behaviour and culture as a society. People still consider basic safety measures like wearing a seat belt or helmet as ways to save themselves from a cop and not from an accident. In a country which loses 1.5 lakh people every year to road accident, road safety should have been taken more seriously. It is no less than a pandemic.
Having worked in the field of road safety for more than a decade I feel that just putting up 30 kmph signages within the campus and making helmets compulsory will not help address the issue. Had people adhered to traffic signages we would not be seeing so many violations. It is not just in our psyche to follow rules.
The following should have been done at the aftermath of the tragic accident.
A through road safety audit of the campus, identifying blind spots, dangerous curves, need for speed breakers and at which points, positioning of convex mirrors at blind turns etc.
Installation of speed gun cameras with the ability to capture number plates which will deter anyone from over speeding
On campus guards armed with breath analyzers conducting random checks for drunken driving
Road safety training and sensitization programs both for students, staff and campus guards. With periodic refresher programs in collaboration with traffic police.
I hope the university authorities give some thought to these points and make the campus safe for road users both driving vehicles and pedestrians.
Yours etc.,
Anubrata Choudhury
Via email
Gratitude to our foot soldiers directing traffic
Editor,
Every morning in Shillong, as engines rev and horns echo across narrow roads, one can see the same expression on countless faces — urgency, stress, and the quiet desperation of beating the clock. The rush through Shillong’s traffic has become more than a daily commute; it is an unintentional metaphor for the rat race of life itself. The race is on, and the traffic only reflects the larger race we all are running.
The reasons behind the chaos are many and familiar — systems that react only when the water has already reached the nose, roads too small for the number of vehicles they carry, and drivers too often governed by impatience rather than discipline. Yet, amid all this, there is one group that ends up absorbing the frustration of an entire city: our traffic police. They are blamed for the jams much like blaming our veins for high cholesterol — a criticism misdirected and unfair.
So perhaps it’s time for a pause, if not on the roads, then at least in our perspective. Let us recognise the traffic foot soldiers of Shillong who stand for hours breathing the fumes, enduring the noise, and facing the anger we generate — yet calmly guiding us through the very chaos we create each day. They deserve not our scorn, but our gratitude.
Yours etc.,
Shekhar Singh,
Shillong
A gentle reminder about representing Northeast culture
Editor,
I read your report “NE takes centre stage at IFFI finale” (ST, Nov 29) with a sense of happiness. It is good to know that the cultures of our Northeast were given space at such a large national festival. Seeing the mention of Wangala and other folk dances of North East made us feel proud, because these traditions are part of our everyday life, not just performances.
At the same time, I felt a small worry in my heart. Many of these dances…especially Wangala…carry deep meaning in them, as I understand, for the communities they belong to. For us, Wangala is not just a beautiful dance for the stage. It is a thanksgiving celebration, a moment when families come together to honour
Misi Saljong (The Sun God who blesses us with good harvest and prosperity) after harvest. It has a warmth and a spirit that cannot always be shown in a short stage item.
The same is true for the other dances from the Northeast. They are beautiful to watch and enjoy but behind the beauty there are stories, beliefs, and a lot of feelings that people outside our region may not know. I sometimes feel that when these dances are presented without any explanation, their real meaning gets lost. They become colourful sights, but not understood as living traditions.
I say this with respect: events like IFFI can help the rest of India understand us better if they add a little more context…..maybe a short introduction or a simple narration about each dance. This small step can help audiences appreciate not just the costumes and music, but the heart behind them.
I thank the organisers for bringing the Northeast into the national spotlight. I only hope that in future, our stories and meanings are also shared, so that people see not just the performance but the people behind it.
Yours etc.,
Jairaj,
Via email
