Editor,
The recent explosion in an illegal coal mine at Thangsko in East Jaintia Hills, in which 27 people lost their lives, has deeply shaken many of us. Painful as it is, this tragedy cannot be called unexpected. We have seen it happen before. We have read about it again and again.
For years, The Shillong Times, along with other newspapers, have repeatedly reported deaths and accidents linked to illegal coal mining in the Jaintia Hills. Readers will remember the detailed coverage of the flooding of rat-hole mines in December 2018, where miners were trapped and drowned. In the years that followed came reports of deaths due to suffocation and mine collapse, bodies recovered from abandoned pits, and repeated accidents connected to illegal mining and coal transportation. Even after the ban, fresh mishaps continued to be reported year after year, making it painfully clear that illegal mining had never truly stopped.
Sadly, the same pattern follows every such tragedy. Rescue teams rush in and work under extremely difficult conditions. Political leaders visit the site and express shock. Compensation is announced. Inquiries are ordered and promises of strict action are made. For a short while, there is public concern and media attention. Then, slowly, the focus shifts elsewhere. With time, enforcement weakens, and the same dangerous activity quietly resumes.
This latest incident forces us to ask some pointed questions. If illegal coal mining has been banned for years, how were several mine shafts operating simultaneously? How were explosives procured and used? Why were poor labourers—many of them migrants—allowed to work in such hazardous conditions? And why does firm action so often come only after lives have already been lost?
This is not just about laws being broken. It exposes a deeper failure on our part as a society. Poverty and lack of alternatives push workers into these mines, but weak monitoring, selective enforcement, and the protection of vested interests allow this deadly practice to continue. Occasional arrests or temporary crackdowns do little to address the root of the problem.
Here the question that must be asked is: how long will this continue? How many more lives must be lost before illegal coal mining is tackled once and for all? How many more editorials and warnings must appear before steps are taken to actually prevent the next tragedy?
The victims deserve more than sympathy and compensation. They deserve justice in its truest sense—justice that protects the living and so that no more lives are lost this way.
Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen
Name withheld on request
10-Year Economic Roadmap for Meghalaya
Editor,
Meghalaya possesses a unique combination of natural wealth, human capital, and cultural strength that positions it well for sustainable economic growth in the coming decade. With careful planning, inclusive governance, and a focus on people-centric development, the state can transform itself into an economically strong and environmentally responsible region. This 10-year economic roadmap presents a phased strategy aimed at strengthening foundations, scaling growth, and achieving long-term sustainability.
The first phase, spanning Years 1 to 3, focuses on building strong foundations and restoring public and investor confidence. Governance reforms will be a priority, including the introduction of single-window clearance systems, time-bound approvals, and transparent regulatory frameworks. Clear land-use and environmental policies will enable responsible investments while safeguarding ecological balance. Infrastructure development during this phase will emphasize all-weather road connectivity, reliable electricity, digital infrastructure, and improved urban services. Shillong will be developed as a green and walkable capital city with better public transport and civic amenities. Human capital development will be central, with district-level skill hubs offering training in tourism, healthcare, construction, green jobs, and digital services. These initiatives will improve youth employability and align skills with market needs.
The second phase, covering Years 4 to 6, aims to convert preparedness into large-scale economic activity, employment generation, and income growth. Tourism will be developed as a key economic engine through eco-tourism circuits, homestay promotion, adventure tourism, and wellness destinations. Community participation and local entrepreneurship will ensure inclusive growth. Agriculture will transition from subsistence-based practices to value-added agri-business models. Food processing clusters, cold storage facilities, and logistics networks will support high-value crops such as ginger, turmeric, spices, and horticultural produce. Organic certification and GI branding will open access to national and international markets. During this phase, Meghalaya will also be positioned as a regional hub for education and healthcare, with investments in nursing, paramedical, OET training, and allied health sciences. MSMEs in bamboo, handloom, handicrafts, and wood-based industries will be supported through access to credit, design innovation, and marketing assistance.
The third phase, spanning Years 7 to 10, focuses on leadership, innovation, and sustainability. Meghalaya will emerge as a leader in the green economy by leveraging renewable energy, climate finance, carbon credit mechanisms, and sustainable forestry practices. Where mining activities are undertaken, they will adhere strictly to global environmental, social, and governance standards. The knowledge and remote-services economy will expand through improved digital infrastructure, startup incubation, and innovation ecosystems centered in Shillong and district headquarters. Export-oriented growth will be promoted in organic food products, eco-tourism services, and skilled human resources, particularly in healthcare and education.
By the end of the ten-year period, Meghalaya is expected to generate 4–5 lakh sustainable jobs, significantly raise per-capita income, and reduce youth migration. Tourism revenues are projected to grow three to four times, while farmer incomes are expected to double. Most importantly, the state will be recognized as a national model for green, inclusive, and people-first economic development.
Yours etc.,
Danny K. Rajee
Shillong
Religion and Nation Building
Editor,
We must know one thing, and I bet that a very small group of people are aware that society is full of blind believers. These blind believers consider themselves the “guardians of religion.” They should be enlightened with the fact that there is a huge difference between Religion and Faith. People must know religion does give form to faith, but it is not its origin. They should protect their faith rather than religion because the former never expires, the latter does. Religion only gets corrupted, and still lives on.
Blind believers are like cancer cells who tear the nation from within. They prefer blindness over serving the nation and building it. When the majority populace of a nation consists of these people, the nation lags behind. Another source of communal tension is these blind believers who unquestioningly follow their religious scriptures.
There is no problem in believing or following the scriptures. But these ignorant masses are so drowned in their practice that they do not let other religions co-exist in harmony. And communal disharmony is like an injured enemy pulling the nation’s leg from the ground. Therefore, to build a nation, we must open up their blindness and for that, it is extremely necessary to enlighten them through education—they need more social, political, and cultural education than formal education.
Yours etc.,
Sudarshan Dasgupta.
Shillong -4
