Editor,
The approach taken by the Voice of the People Party (VPP) increasingly looks less like responsible opposition and more like a calculated exercise in political popularity. By framing complex governance issues as urgent crises that demand immediate street mobilisation, the party risks reducing serious policy debates into slogans and spectacle.
Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit is tapping to genuine public frustrations on jobs, land, and governance but the method raises concerns. Calling on students and job aspirants to “sacrifice” studies or work for protests is not a sustainable path to reform. It places the burden of political pressure on those already struggling for stability. Leadership should be about protecting these groups, not pulling them into prolonged agitation.
There is also a noticeable tendency to generalise and dramatise issues. Allegations of widespread corruption and democratic erosion without clearly outlining actionable, realistic policy alternatives. Criticism of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission or land policies may be valid, but solutions require institutional reform, legal clarity, and administrative will, not just mass rallies.
By leaning heavily on mobilisation politics, the VPP risks fostering a cycle where visibility is mistaken for effectiveness. Street strength can highlight grievances, but it cannot replace the hard work of governance: drafting laws, building consensus, and implementing reforms. If every issue is pushed toward confrontation, it may deepen divisions rather than resolve them.
In the end, opposition politics carries a responsibility: not just to oppose, but to offer credible, practical alternatives. Without that, the VPP’s strategy risks being seen less as a movement for change and more as a pursuit of political capital through public sentiment.
Yours etc.,
Mantre Hame Dkhar,
Via email
Please Treat Retired Teachers With Respect
Editor,
With reference to the news item published in The Shillong Times dated April 22, 2026 regarding the opposition by the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) to the Meghalaya Non-Government Schools and Colleges Employee Centralised Fund Scheme, 2026, I wish to humbly place a few concerns for kind consideration.
As of now there appears to be a deep sense of anxiety among the teaching and non-teaching fraternity under the deficit grant-in-aid system. The issues raised by the association, especially concerning retired teachers and employees appointed prior to April 2010, deserve serious and sympathetic attention.
At this point in time, it may kindly be appreciated that matters relating to pension and retirement are not merely administrative in nature but are closely linked with human dignity and survival. We know old age is a time when financial stability matters a lot not only for survival but also for meeting medical expenses and basic needs. As of today many retired teachers are reportedly facing financial hardship and sadly a few of them are no more leaving behind their families in the hope of a pension for survival.
In the present social condition where the family is becoming more and more nuclear, expectations from one’s own offspring cannot always be assured. This makes pension not just a benefit but something necessary for living with dignity.
It is respectfully submitted that the concern regarding lack of adequate consultation with stakeholders may not be overlooked. A policy of such importance should ideally be based on mutual understanding and trust. The reference to an earlier agreed draft of 2023 also gives this expectation.
As things stand today employees appointed before April 2010 have been governed by the Contributory Provident Fund system under existing provisions. Any move to club different categories without clear safeguards may create confusion and insecurity among employees.
In the present circumstances directives for compliance even when the matter is under judicial consideration may be seen as premature. A balanced and humane approach would help restore confidence.
It is therefore humbly requested that the government help retired teachers and future retiring teachers to live a life of dignity. This I believe will truly materialise the recognition and respect which are otherwise expressed every year on Teachers Day.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Stop blocking roads for your political agendas
Editor
“Stop blocking roads for your political agendas” – a message delivered with impeccable timing. The Iron Lady’s explosive outburst came at a time when it is needed the most. It manifests sheer courage and civic sense. After the VPP Supremo openly called for “Citizens to join in Lakhs for March to Secretariat,” the first thing that comes to mind is the pestering thought of what that future event might cause – the utter disruption of traffic in an already suffering system. The 8-point charter of demands is a valid cause and rightly deserves public support. Yet, there are other ways to mobilise public support instead of outrightly calling one and all to throng the streets, an idea prone to causing a serious law and order situation (if things go haywire). One stone, thrown in the wrong direction can spark a huge fire. Whether the term ‘Lakhs’ is just an exaggeration or real (judging from the crowd at Motphran), VPP leaders should practice restraint and resort to diplomatic strategy first, rather than tagging the crowd. The ultimate losers as history had unveiled (in the past decades) are the school/college-going-students. At a time when chaos is disrupting peace in several areas of the country and the world, we need a Pope Leo XIV more than a Donald Trump. Please don’t block the Strait of Motphran or PB (or Kashari/Governor’s House/SP Office…), for heavily laden ships need to pass through.
Yours etc.,
Kyntiewborlang Kharakor,
Via email
Preserving the Sanctity of Ward’s Lake
Editor,
Recently, several letters published in The Shillong Times have drawn attention to the increasing misuse of Ward’s Lake, particularly the erection of temporary structures for government-organized events within its grounds. It has also been noted that such installations are often left uncleared for days after events conclude, leading to the accumulation of clutter and debris that detracts from the lake’s natural charm.
Ward’s Lake is not merely a convenient venue; it is a vital urban sanctuary. It offers residents and visitors alike a rare sense of calm, a place for reflection, and an essential green lung within the city. To allow its open spaces to be cluttered with makeshift installations and to leave behind debris that lingers for days is to erode the very qualities that define its significance. Such practices not only diminish its visual appeal but also place unnecessary strain on its fragile environment.
While it is commendable that members of the public have voiced their concerns, it is difficult to understand why authorities would permit the compromise of a protected and shared natural space intended for public repose. It is reasonable to assume that alternative venues exist within the city that are better suited to hosting such events, without encroaching upon areas meant for leisure or for the community’s common refuge.
The concerns and constructive suggestions put forward by citizens deserve thoughtful consideration. A balanced and judicious approach is essential to ensure that such spaces are used and maintained in accordance with their intended purpose. Anything less risks deepening public frustration and reinforcing the perception that environmental stewardship remains a secondary concern.
Yours etc.,
K L Tariang,
Via email
