Shillong: ‘Hope springs eternal in the human breast’, say the bards. With the end of an eventful year there are many who hope that 2012 ushers in better governance and positive development.
The most mind-boggling issue of 2011 are the traffic jams along the national highways and Shillong city. Many thinkers and civil society activists feel that Meghalaya can do with better governance and greater accountability of the powers that be.
The Shillong Times spoke to some prominent citizens of the state whose doomsday predictions should make the Government sit up and take notice. Their views that the state would collapse if the government remains passive about some key issues require serious introspection.
NEHU Professor, Jemino Mawthoh observed that the Meghalaya is on a downhill slide which is visible in the way traffic is mismanaged, the garbage collection system has collapsed, the illegal mining activities and environmental degradation’ a sluggish economy and rise in crime.
Mawthoh says the government needs to wake up to these issues and look for solutions. “We expect a lot from our legislators, they have to do their homework and open their eyes and ears to the present condition of the state”, he said, adding the people don’t want rhetoric only but desire to see some real work from the legislators.
Terming the state of affairs as ‘pathetic’, Mawthoh said the government needs to have a vision and a long term plan for development to happen. “An analysis for the state of affairs is needed in Meghalaya”, he reiterated.
He also pointed out that the people need to be more conscious about what is happening and voice out their opinions and the politicians need to articulate policies based on the ground realities.
Commissioner and Secretary of Fisheries department, KN Kumar has high expectations for 2012 as far as the fishery department is concerned. “I would like to see that the Aquaculture With governance..
(Contd from P-1) Mission is launched in various districts of the state and also would like to see fishery societies come up in a big way which could help the fishery farmers to be self sufficient”, Kumar said adding that he would also like to see a foundation stone being laid for self sufficient fisheries in the state.
Turning to the other expectations, Kumar said “We all expect society to be clean and uphold its moral values and also to be free from violence”.
Archbishop of Shillong Rev Fr Dominic Jala is of the view that unemployment is a major issue which is haunting the youth. “With the onset of the New Year, we expect Government to create more employment opportunities in various sector of the economy,” Rev Jala said, adding that the state needs responsible legislators who care about the people and the state of affairs. “As 2013 election is approaching, we hope to see candidates who have greater concern for the people and not only money”, Rev Fr Jala added.
Concerned over the deterioration of moral values in the society, the Archbishop said “I wish to see that people are able to live by solid moral values be it in their social life or personal life. Let peace and tranquility prevail in the state”.
FKJGP President Emlang Lytan said 2011 was not auspicious for the people of Meghalaya as the very meaning of good governance is diluted.
“We expect mush from the government but we see it is not serious about the expectations of the people”, he said adding that issues like traffic congestions, crimes needs serious attention.
Referring to the upcoming elections in 2013, Lytan said as the election fever sets in, there are high hopes that the legislators will do something to please the people like the laying of foundation stones in various places and other similar works. “But they cannot fool the people anymore. If the Congress party wants to come to power again, it has to take into consideration the needs and expectations of the people”, the FKJGP president said.
Recently inducted member of the UDP, Paul Lyngdoh pointed out that in actuality, no major achievement was visible on the state’s development trajectory during 2011. “Poor manpower and lack of decisiveness have choked our roads and led to loss of lives and precious time of the commuters”, Lyngdoh said adding that work on the bye-pass and four lanes is very slow and the state continues to move at a snail’s pace in an era of rapid technological advancement.
KSU President, Samuel Jyrwa admitted that there are some areas of improvement in 2011 like the Shillong Bye-pass, Power projects and others but at the same time rued the fact that there were some policies which are pending for years now and nothing has been done in this regard.
“What the state needs is the immediate implementation of the State Mining Policy, Youth policy, Education policy which has been pending for many years now and policies which would bring holistic development to the people of the state”, he said adding that a proper system to address traffic congestion is imperative.
