Editor,
Daisy Kharkongor’s letter has rightly pointed to the reality of pressure groups becoming a hurdle to the overall development, economic upliftment and improvement of the state. Some writers seem to be misled by such groups. Without understanding the hard realities they are emotionally misled by so called services of these pressure groups. If they could at least show one successful work accomplished by any of these pressure groups then perhaps their views stand vindicated. The reality is that once railways or any other investments come such groups would be poorer by losing valuable income generated through various modes. No wonder none of the country’ s renowned industries houses would care to invest here as they already know the true picture. But who cares?
Yours etc.,
Dominic S Wankhar
Shillong-3
Teachers or second class citizens?
Editor,
Teachers are said to be the backbone of the society and the nation. Without teachers there would have been no doctors, engineers, scientists or MLAs. Even the President and Prime Minister have passed through the hand of some teacher another. But in Meghalaya the Deficit School teachers of the Primary Section of East Khasi Hills have not been for the last three months. It now seems that being teacher is a crime when we observe the attitude of the Government towards them. Don’t teachers have a life beyond their teaching? They too have families that they need to support. They have to pay the school fees of their children and feed and clothe them. How can they live normal, tension free lives if they are not paid on time. And what happens if they fall sick and need to undergo treatment? Will the teachers be provided with free medical treatment? Will the schools wait for three months for their school fees from the children of teachers? Which employee, private or government get their salary once in three or four months? Who is responsible for this ill-treatment of teachers? We want an answer.
Yours etc.,
Neha Singh,
Via email
Ri Bhoi abandoned
Editor
Apropos Fr. Michael Makri’s letter titled “20 years only…” (ST June 6, 2012) I fully endorse the writer’s view that Ri Bhoi district has been betrayed by successive governments. There is no development in the district except for the 4 lane highway work and even this has run into trouble with greedy people holding it up for a few rupees more. Even the district headquarter Nongpoh can at best be called a halfway stop for tourists. Where are all the grand schemes announced by each government at election time? What has happened to all the “pet projects” of successive chief ministers in the last 20 years? Do we even know what these projects were any more? These days I read in the newspapers about our present CM, Mukul Sangma announcing one grand project after another, one every week. But what will be the fate of these projects after the elections? It is doubtful that they will sustain because the government will promptly abandon them once the votes are in.
Ri Bhoi has been blessed with abundant agricultural potential, more than any other district in the state. The soil is rich and the climate amenable towards agricultural activities. But has the government done anything to improve or at least sustain all the schemes it has already sanctioned? Has it done anything to improve the storage and distribution facilities so that goods reach the major markets in prime condition? Has it helped farmers get a fair price for their produce? How many kilometers of roads has the govt built or repaired in the farming belt in the last 20 years? What is the fate of agricultural subsidies and loans to farmers? The Block offices are nothing but hollow shells today with rampant corruption and empty coffers. They are incapable of rendering effective assistance to farmers whether in cash (by way of subsidies) or in kind (through technical assistance). In all the above areas, the result has been a big fat zero.
Come election time, we see local MLAs rushing to distribute goodies for votes. There is a buzz of activity in Ri Bhoi at this critical time in case a single vote is missed. But the moment elections are over and done with, the silence is deafening. Let Mukul Sangma’s government first take stock of the grand schemes and projects announced by his predecessors before burdening us with more just for the sake of creating headlines.
Yours etc.,
Calvin Syiem
Ri Bhoi District