Editor,
The recent dynamite blast in an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills on February 5 has claimed at least 25 lives, with rescue efforts still under way to pull out trapped workers. This tragedy, involving mostly migrant labourers from Assam and Nepal, underscores the persistent peril of unregulated mining in a state where such accidents are alarmingly routine. Despite a decade-old ban, these death traps persist—begging the question: who is truly responsible?
Primarily, the mine owners and operators must be held accountable. Two individuals have already been arrested in connection with this incident – a step in the right direction. Their flagrant violation of safety norms, using explosives in cramped, unstable tunnels, directly caused the explosion. But individual culpability only scratches the surface. The deeper rot lies in systemic failures.
Where are the so-called NGOs championing workers’ rights and environmental justice? Organizations that once vocally protested mining hazards seem conspicuously absent amid this crisis. While some activists had raised alarms about prior deaths just weeks before this blast, the broader NGO community—often quick to litigate on other fronts—has not mounted a sustained campaign to expose the illegal networks or support affected families. Their silence risks complicity in a cycle of exploitation.
Equally puzzling is the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) inertia. The NGT imposed a blanket ban on rat-hole mining in 2014, citing environmental and safety risks, yet enforcement remains a mirage. Why hasn’t the tribunal cracked down with stricter monitoring or penalties? Recent warnings from a retired judge and activist went unheeded, highlighting how NGT orders gather dust while lives are lost.
Finally, the Meghalaya state government cannot evade scrutiny. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has promised accountability and urged an end to illegal mining, but has the administration truly curbed it? Despite sporadic crackdowns, illegal operations thrive due to alleged political patronage, porous borders, and economic dependencies. The government’s inability to implement scientific mining alternatives or rehabilitate miners speaks volumes. Prime Minister Modi’s compensation announcement is welcome, but prevention, not payouts, is the need of the hour.
This blast isn’t an isolated “accident”—it’s a predictable outcome of neglect. Meghalaya must enforce the ban rigorously, NGOs must amplify their advocacy, and the NGT needs to wield its authority. Without collective action, more lives will be buried in the pursuit of coal.
Yours etc.,
Anil Thapa,
Via email
Silence no longer golden
Editor,
“A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation”. -James Freeman Clarke.
Massive tranche of secrets overflowed as the Jeffrey Epstein files opened the Pandora’s box. Julian Assange’s Wikileaks had another story of its own. Whatever it is, the truth cannot be hidden for long, karma does find its way to haunt the wrongdoer. The 22,429 square kilometres state which has lofty dreams of a $10 billion economy in the next five years was warned through the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) (‘CAG warns Meghalaya’s borrowing trend could lead to debt trap’, The Hindu, March 31, 2023). Alarm bells are ringing recently through an RTI activist who laid down the CM’s officers-on-special duty army, which draws lakhs and travels the Forbes magazine style.
Questions galore arise as to why a Christian dominated state has dipped down the charts in its moral values and ethical way of living. The recent coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills shows the deep state which we are entrenched in. The ruling elites have become carbon copies of Donald Trump and Putin. Observers have witnessed the gross misuse of intelligence agencies in the past, demonstrating that political masters can subvert the laws of the land for their own gain.
If at all Meghalaya is to elevate its position as the prime state in the Northeast, the mindset has to change, allowing for free speech. The intelligentsia, media organisations, civil society organisations and whistleblowers should be protected and accountability must be demanded for the wrong choices or else the guillotine is not far from our reach.
Dave Berke, retired US Marine Corps officer and TOPGUN Instructor in his book ‘The Need to Lead’ elaborates that the problem is always leadership and the action of a leader is to always take ownership.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10
Online learning must stop
Editor,
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, online classes gained prominence as the only viable means of ensuring continuity of learning. Due to this, smartphones, which were hitherto largely inaccessible to children, suddenly became indispensable tools for attending virtual classes, submitting assignments and interacting with teachers. Despite their clear utility during that time, this newfound access to smartphones by primary and middle school students had a dangerous consequence: widespread smartphone dependency and even smartphone addiction among this age group. After all, mobiles are notoriously addictive, snaring even well-knowing adults in hours of mindless scrolling. For children, whose brains are still developing, the dangers of high phone usage are dire, and can severely impact their development. As such, restricting phone access during childhood is key to protecting our budding minds.
It is thus a serious cause for worry that even after the COVID lockdowns ended, this new digital mode of education did not vanish. Many teachers have continued to use digital platforms extensively for sharing homework, assignments, study materials and instructions. In several cases, students are even assigned due dates and submissions beyond school hours, thereby ensuring that the child has no choice but to use a smartphone to submit his/her work. As a direct result, parents are once again compelled to grant phone access to their children, re-exposing them to the same risks that arose during lockdown, and creating a potentially vicious cycle of phone use and addiction. It will thus not be unfair to infer that schools and teachers are, amongst other factors, partly responsible for the rise in mobile addiction amongst children. The effects of high screen time are of course well-known: diminished attention spans, sleep disorders, impaired emotional regulation, reduced capacity for social interaction and declining real-world engagement, all of which have long-term consequences on the mental health and psychological well-being of children.
What makes this more concerning is that, beyond the convenience of sharing some key resources, there is no statistical clarity as to how beneficial this deep use of mobiles and social media in education is, especially for schoolchildren who are already spending many hours of their day in physical classes. One should also bear in mind that, so far, classroom teaching remains the only legally recognized and accepted norm of school education. There is no statutory mandate from the Education Department that permits schools to impart education through digital platforms in addition to normal classroom teaching. In this context, some serious questions arise which need to be answered. By what authority do schools and teachers continue to impose digital exposure to children, given it is harmful and potentially unlawful? On what legal basis do they extend school hours beyond the final bell through WhatsApp groups and chats?
Digital platforms should be restricted strictly to administrative communications such as informing parents about changes in class timings, holidays, examinations or events requiring parental presence.
As the new academic session in Meghalaya is about to commence, I earnestly urge the Hon’ble Education Minister and the State Education Department to take cognizance of this pressing issue. A clear balanced policy regarding the use of digital platforms in schools must be formulated and until that time, strict directives should be issued restricting schools from using these platforms for academic purposes. Should the Government fail to act, it is not unlikely that parents will be compelled to seek judicial intervention to safeguard the well-being of their children.
Yours etc.,
NK Kehar
Shillong-3
