Editor,
There was a time when most Bollywood songs were like poetry. They carried profound meaning and deeper insight. They were so deeply soothing to the heart that they stirred listeners to dream of heavenly romance and beauty. Songs such as “Neele gagan ke tale, dharti ka pyaar pale” or “Kora kagaz tha yeh man mera” still stir the imagination and emotion, urging one to become the Majnu of his Laila or the Romeo of his Juliet. But let’s be honest, today things look completely different. It’s like a shift from the divine to the devil!
When social media suddenly erupted in uproar against Nora Fatehi, I initially thought it might be linked to the same old money-laundering case involving the most dreaded conman, Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Only later did I realise the true reason. The “item number” from the newly released film KD: The Devil, in which she performs, became the lightning rod for mass outrage. It was so raw and brazenly vulgar that anyone who happened to hear it could not listen to it twice. Indeed, if someone were to dare to perform this song in public, they might even face immediate arrest.
One cannot help but wonder why Bollywood stoops so low. Why does the film industry deliberately pander to raw carnality, jolting the collective conscience? Why does it tear apart the sanctity of family values with such reckless abandon? While most of the Bollywood fraternity remained silent amid this uproar, Armaan Malik, a playback singer, spoke out — “Sad to see commercial songwriting hit a new low. I am genuinely at a loss for words. Wish I could unhear it.”
Besides, condemnation from many other organisations, the National Commission for Women (NCW), in their summons to Nora Fatehi, Sanjay Dutt, and the makers of the film, stated that the song’s content, “prima facie appears to be sexually suggestive, objectionable, and violative of provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, IT Act, and POCSO Act.”
The first question that arises is why the censor board approved the release of a film containing such an explicitly vulgar song. The CBFC is equally accountable, though now the dirty item has been clipped out. It seems the authorities on this Board have lost their moral compass and their sense of what is harmful to society. One gentleman even wrote on social media that, “the big shots in the CBFC should be made to stand alongside the irresponsible film’s actors and makers and be put behind bars.” Whether one agrees or not, such explicit films contribute to corrupting the younger generation, turning them into nothing less than “deviants and lechers.”
Incidentally, Nora Fatehi was graciously invited by the Government of Meghalaya. Perhaps she was paid handsomely to glamourise the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival. Now, doesn’t that send a mixed message? On one hand, she is celebrated on a public stage, and on the other, she is linked to content that trivialises the dignity of womanhood itself. What if tomorrow, some misguided youth from our state enacts something similar to her performance in KD: The Devil at marriage parties, birthday celebrations, or even Teachers’ Day events? Let’s not be hypocritical. What elders or people in high positions do is often “thoughtlessly imitated” by followers further down the line.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Different RTI Modes in Different Departments
Editor,
A few days ago, I lodged an RTI pertaining to the death certificate of a person in connection with pension matters. The deceased had passed away in a district different from East Khasi Hills. Since the matter pertains to a mortality-related issue, l therefore, approached the Directorate of Health Services (MI),Government of Meghalaya with the RTI application. Here, the dealing official promptly accepted the said RTI application even before my paying the mandatory fee of Rs10. l was handed over a cash receipt as per RTI provisions. Within a short time I received a letter that a notice was duly conveyed to the Public lnformation 0fficer of the District concerned to reply to the said RTI application within the given stipulated time-frame. Thus, the swift action taken by the Directorate of Health Services (MI) must be commended!
Given that this issue in question relates to pension payment, l had simultaneously approached the head 0ffce in Shillong that deals specifically with pension matters with the same RTI. However, that RTI was not accepted there. According to the Dealing Assistant, since the application relates to another district it was not acceptable in East Khasi Hills. Hence l was advised by the District Officer concerned to travel to the said district at my own cost and inconvenience to file the RTI.
In this context, l had assumed that this establishment could have gracefully taken the accountability to forward that RTI, as done by the Directorate of Health Services( MI), to the Public Information Officer of the District 0ffice concerned, to do the needful within the dateline. This assertion is being made in case the RTI applicants are senior citizens or are not in a healthy state physically/ mentally and thereby their undertaking a long journey to another District file an RTI becomes next to impossible. Will the different government departments care to explain what the rule/s are in such cases and why different departments have different rules about handling RTI matters?
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh,
Shillong-2
Keys to Equality: Access to Quality Healthcare & Education
Editor,
In the month of September last year, I suffered an ankle fracture and I was admitted to a government hospital. An ORIF surgery was performed and as expected the cost of the surgery was manageable. Had the surgery been performed in a private hospital the expenses would have definitely been much more. The cost of the surgery would have been minimal had I had access to the MHIS card. It made me realize that people who belong to lower income groups have access to medical care primarily because of the existence of government healthcare facilities and government health schemes, otherwise they would have been priced out of medical care.
India’s Gini-coefficient score based on the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey of 2023-24 is 0.237 for rural areas and 0.284 for urban areas; this puts India in a favourable position when it comes to income equality. According to 2022 World Bank data, India’s combined Gini score of 0.255 makes India the fourth most equal country globally. This is something to be proud of but a well-documented limitation of Consumption based Gini scores is the under-representation of the top 10 percent income earners.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation through its Statistics wing, the National Statistics Office will conduct the National Household Income Survey for the first time from April 2026.This will give a comprehensive overview of the distribution of income in the country and a Gini score calculated based on an Income survey will therefore be more accurate. Another positive outcome of the National Household Income Survey is that it will address the leakages from the Public Distribution System. Once the leakages are addressed, more focus can be given to the core sectors primarily health and education.
As mentioned earlier, India’s healthcare system is one of the most affordable in the world primarily because of government investment but more needs to be done to improve the healthcare facilities and access to quality healthcare. As far as education is concerned too, it is because of government funding that most of us can afford higher education but more needs to be done to improve the standard of education especially at the school level. The Nordic Countries have shown the world how a high public investment in health and education transformed society at large and ultimately led to a more egalitarian society.
Yours etc.,
Gary Marbaniang,
Via email
