Editor,
The new Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is being formed by Abhijeet Dipke as a rebellious pushback after Chief Justice Surya Kant compared unemployed youth to “cockroaches.” In his statement, he said: “There are youngsters like cockroaches. They don’t get employment, they don’t have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some become social media, some become RTI activists, some become another kind of activist, and they start attacking everyone.”
As someone who loves using social media, I have clearly seen and witnessed the frustration, anger, doubts, and confusion among young people. All they want are answers from the people in power. First of all, many Gen Z youth in our country are highly educated but are left with no jobs or meaningful activities to engage in. Such statements have deeply affected them and their thinking. They felt hurt.
Often, I have heard people say that Gen Z in India should do something just like young people in other countries are doing. But now, because of the above statement, I hope more young people will come forward to raise their voices, express their concerns, and seek accountability from those in power.
Even though the new Cockroach Janata Party is still unofficial, I have faith that together we can, and together we will succeed, because every voice matters. After all, if not now, then when?
The CJP account on Instagram was created just a few days back, but the number of followers is increasing day by day. This shows that many young people want change. I have also seen many sarcastic reels created by youth highlighting issues within our system. Many young people feel that the country should focus more on poverty, education, unemployment, and other concerns that directly affect their future.
Youth today want development, opportunities, and solutions to issues that impact their lives. Many feel disappointed when these needs are not adequately addressed. I hope CJP becomes a platform that encourages positive change, development, and meaningful conversations for the future of India.
Yours etc.,
Evanisha Pathaw
Via email
Ensure Safer Working Conditions for MeECL LInemen
Editor
Referring to the news item published in The Shillong Times on May 20, 2026 regarding the rescue of a lineman at Barengapara village under Dalu Police Station, West Garo Hills, I wish to express my deep appreciation for the extraordinary bravery displayed by the lineman who risked his own life to save his fellow worker from being electrocuted.
The incident may appear to be a small local news report, yet the courage and humanity shown during those terrifying moments deserve the highest respect. When one worker was left dangling helplessly after suffering a severe electric shock, his colleague did not abandon him in fear or panic. Despite knowing the danger to his own life, he remained atop the electric pole and carefully untangled the victim from the deadly wires, ultimately helping him reach safety. Such presence of mind and selfless courage are rare and truly inspiring.
What touched many hearts was not merely the rescue itself, but the human concern behind the action. In today’s world, where people often hesitate even to involve themselves in emergencies, this lineman chose humanity before personal safety. His action reminds us that courage is not always found in grand occasions; sometimes it is seen in ordinary workers silently performing extraordinary acts.
At the same time, the incident raises serious concern about the safety of those who work daily in such hazardous conditions. Reports indicate that the electric shock occurred due to a reverse current surge from a nearby inverter or generator because of the absence of a proper changeover switch. Such technical lapses can easily cost precious lives.
While appreciating the heroic rescue, one also hopes that MeECL and the concerned authorities will take this incident as a serious reminder to strengthen preventive safety measures. Proper technical safeguards, regular inspections, improved awareness regarding generator and inverter connections, and adequate protection for field workers are urgently necessary so that such near-tragic incidents do not recur.
The bravery of the rescuer deserves recognition, but ensuring safer working conditions for those who risk their lives daily would be the true tribute to both workers involved in this incident.
Yours etc…,
Jairaj,
Via email
Soft Skills, Hard Realities: The Crisis of Education Governance in Meghalaya
Editor,
The expansion of the “SPARK” initiative across Meghalaya is being framed as a landmark achievement in youth empowerment. On the surface, the narrative is compelling. In an increasingly competitive global economy, our youth require “soft skills”—communication, confidence, and corporate etiquette—to become employable. However, a deeper examination of the political economy behind these multi-crore workshops suggests that this “spark” may be little more than a costly smoke screen, masking a systemic neglect of foundational education and a troubling lack of fiscal transparency.
The most glaring contradiction lies in the perceived efficacy of these short-term interventions. If a ten-day corporate workshop can truly deliver the transformative results promised by its proponents, it raises a fundamental question about the utility of our entire conventional schooling system. If we can bypass years of “arduous school work” with a few weeks of “personality development,” why are we investing crores in the upkeep of an education department? The reality, of course, is that these workshops are a “finishing school” approach applied to a house that lacks a foundation. By prioritizing “employability” over literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking, the state is effectively admitting the failure of its schools while choosing to pay shady private entities crores to paint over the cracks.
The financial scale of these initiatives—running into tens of crores—demands a level of scrutiny that has thus far been absent. In the landscape of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), there is a well-documented and dangerous link between political financing and government contracting. It is a legitimate public concern to ask: Is there a correlation between the donors who fund political campaigns and the private firms that are subsequently awarded these lucrative training deals?
When “soft” services like “motivation” or “skill-building” are outsourced to private corporates, the lack of measurable, long-term outcomes makes them the perfect vehicle for political kickbacks. Unlike building a bridge or a hospital, where the physical structure stands as evidence of expenditure, a workshop is ethereal. It leaves behind a trail of photos and press releases, but little in the way of audited, long-term socio-economic impact.
Perhaps most insulting is the state’s devaluation of the professional teacher. While the government insists on rigorous qualifications, eligibility tests, and years of training for school teachers—only to pay them meager salaries and often delay their disbursements—it sets no such standards for these private consultants. We are witnessing the de-professionalization of teaching, where a “charismatic personality” with the right political connections is deemed more valuable than a trained educator who understands the cognitive and psychological needs of a child.
If the government were serious about the future of Meghalaya’s youth, the crores currently being funnelled into these corporate workshops would be redirected toward the structural revitalization of our schools. True development does not happen during a “soft-skills” seminar; it happens in a classroom that has classrooms, electricity, a library, and qualified teachers who are respected and paid.
As it stands, the “SPARK” expansion appears to be an exercise in optical governance. It provides a flashy, media-friendly narrative of progress while the actual machinery of public education continues to rust. It is time we demand that our education begins in the classroom, not in a 5 star hotel workshop.
Yours etc.,
A Kharnaior,
Via email
