Editor,
The Under-23 Women’s Cricket Team of Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) showed a kind of courage that our institutions have failed to match. They came forward with a complaint of sexual harassment against an office bearer of the MCA, its Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, at a time when silence would have been the easier, safer choice, and has been for years at the MCA. Months later, with the matter now before the High Court, it is worth asking a hard question: who is actually paying the price for this complaint, and who is not?
Kharkamni stands suspended. On paper, that sounds like accountability. In practice, he continues to travel from place to place, live his life, and hold on to political and governmental positions that a genuine reckoning would have put in question. Suspension without consequence is not justice, it is a pause button, and pause buttons favour the powerful. The longer this matter drags on in the public eye without visible resolution, the more it looks like Kharkamni’s deliberate strategy of waiting the story out until the public forgets the issue.
Meanwhile, the women who filed this complaint carry the burden of visibility that the accused has managed to avoid. Their identities, their courage, and their ongoing fight have become the story, while the person facing allegations gets to fade into the background of daily life. That imbalance should trouble all of us. It should trouble our NGOs most of all. Meghalaya’s NGOs have not been shy about raising their voice. They protested uranium mining. They protested the Citizenship Amendment Act. They spoke up when border violence claimed the lives of our own people. Each of those causes deserved that response. But where is that same energy when it comes to sustained, documented mistreatment of our women, escalating all the way to sexual harassment inside one of the state’s own sporting institutions? Are women’s safety and dignity a cause worth marching for only when it is politically convenient, or does it not count as one of the “burning issues” of our state?
The pattern extends to the Government as well. Time and again, action from the NPP-led Government arrives only after public pressure has built to a point where inaction becomes embarrassing. That is image management before leadership. When a person like Kharkamni is at the centre of an allegation and holds political rank and governmental position, that pattern of reactive, PR-driven action becomes even harder to excuse. Are we truly waiting for another disturbing MCA-like case to erupt before anyone in a position of power feels compelled to act on principle rather than on pressure?
Meghalaya prides itself on being a matrilineal society. That title means little if the lived experiences of our women is one of being unsafe and unheard and made to wait indefinitely for justice while their alleged harasser goes about his life undisturbed. Cases of violence against women in this state continue to surface almost daily, and for every one that makes the news, others never do.
If our democratic and civil institutions treat justice for women as something with a shelf-life, something that matters only for as long as it stays relevant in the public eye, then we are teaching every future complainant a dangerous lesson: that coming forward may cost her more than it costs the accused. That is not the standard our players, or any woman in this state, should have to accept.
Justice delayed is justice denied. The High Court case must run its course, but the silence of our NGOs and the lack of action from our government in their own capacities, even when there is a glaring and uncomfortable report of sexual harassment, tells a demotivating story for women.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email
Complaint Against Fare Exploitation of Local Cab Drivers in Shillong
Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the growing problem of fare exploitation by some local cab drivers in Shillong. Thousands of people depend on local cabs for transportation daily. Unfortunately, many passengers are often charged fares much higher than the approved rates. Some drivers refuse to use the prescribed fare system, demand extra charges during peak hours, and take advantage of citizens who are unable to speak against the nature of the cab drivers. Such unfair practices create inconvenience, and reduce public confidence in the transport system.
Here are a few instances I have experienced. There was a time when I was commuting from Governor’s house to Shillong College and the cab driver charged a student Rs.20 (which is considered to be over-priced for a student given the kilometer travelled) and cited that, that was the prescribed rate since COVID and uttered a few demeaning words which I found difficult to decipher. Another time, I had commuted from Pantaloons Road to Dhanketi point; the same rate was charged and the driver stated that Rs 10 is of no value in the present day, which personally is unjust.
I request the transport authorities to take strict action against those who overcharge passengers. Regular inspections should be conducted, fare charts should be displayed clearly in all cabs, and a helpline should be introduced to allow commuters to report complaints. At the same time, honest cab drivers should be encouraged and protected.
I hope your esteemed newspaper will highlight this issue so that the concerned authorities take prompt and effective action in the interest of the public.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Govt Schools Must Buck Up
Editor,
According to a recent report by the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), government schools across India lost nearly 86 lakh students over the past two academic years while private unaided recognized schools gained 88 lakh enrolments. This raises serious concerns as the preference of parents and students for private schools will badly affect the functioning of government schools in the country. There are several discernible reasons for this situation. Over the years, the expectations of parents for their children have changed. They want their children to excel in all fields. When government schools fall short of their expectations, parents enrol their children in private schools. Most private schools emphasize communication skills, discipline, high scoring in exams and so on. After school, a large number of students aspire to crack medical and engineering entrance tests. A large number of private schools prepare students for competitive exams, Government schools do not prioritize such areas. Also, most government schools lack facilities such as good classrooms, washrooms, playgrounds, and restrooms. Menstruating girls feel uncomfortable because of the scarcity of water. In many government schools staff vacancies are not filled. The government must invest sufficiently for the progress of its own schools and take measures for the improvement of quality of education
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam
