Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the persistent problem of poor mobile network and internet connectivity in Mawlynnong village.
Despite being one of Meghalaya’s leading tourist destinations, Mawlynnong continues to experience unreliable network coverage. This causes inconvenience to tourists who depend on mobile services for communication, navigation, digital payments, emergency assistance, etc. It also affects residents, students, and local businesses that rely on stable internet connectivity for their daily activities.
It is concerning that neighbouring villages enjoy better network coverage despite having far less tourism activity. This highlights the need for improved telecommunications infrastructure in Mawlynnong.
I, therefore, earnestly appeal to the concerned authorities and telecom service providers to take immediate steps to strengthen the network infrastructure and ensure reliable connectivity in the village. Such measures will benefit tourism, support local development, and improve public convenience.
I sincerely hope this matter will receive the urgent attention it deserves.
Yours etc.,
M Dkhar,
Via email
Concern Over Lack of Transparency in Recruitment Processes
Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to express a concern shared by many unemployed youths of Meghalaya regarding the manner in which certain recruitments are being carried out in government agencies.
Initially, I was delighted to hear about the initiatives introduced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, namely STEMS School Bus Services and Ka Bus Jong Ngi. These projects not only improve public transportation but also create employment opportunities for the youth of our state.
Motivated by this prospect, my brother and I visited the Employment Exchange and submitted all our required documents with the hope that we would be informed of any vacancies arising under these projects or elsewhere. As per its mandate, the Employment Exchange is expected to collect job vacancies from employers and sponsor suitable registered candidates. Unfortunately, despite being registered and regularly following up, we never received any information regarding available positions and were told to directly go to MUDA and STEMS offices..
Thereafter, we personally approached both MUDA and STEMS directly and formally submitted our documents for consideration for any available vacancy. We were informed that there were no vacancies at the time and that our documents would simply be kept on record.
However, to our surprise, several individuals, including friends and even my own brother, later received direct appointment calls for conductor positions under MUDA and STEMS. What is particularly concerning is that no public advertisement, notification, or recruitment notice was issued for these posts. This raises several questions.
Why are government agencies bypassing the standard recruitment process of advertisement, application, screening, examination (where applicable), and interview? On what basis are candidates being selected? Do these departments not have Human Resource mechanisms to ensure transparent and merit-based recruitment? Are such appointments free from bias and favouritism? Is the roster system being followed in these recruitments?
For unemployed youths who spend years registering with Employment Exchanges, submitting applications, and waiting for opportunities, such practices are deeply discouraging. It creates an impression that many vacancies are filled without giving all eligible candidates an equal chance to compete.
I therefore appeal to organizations such as the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), which have consistently advocated for employment opportunities for local youth, to take up this issue and seek greater transparency in recruitment practices. If necessary, the genuineness and legality of previous recruitments should also be examined through appropriate legal channels.
I also earnestly request the Hon’ble Chief Minister, who has earned a reputation for dynamic governance and youth empowerment, to ensure that transparent and fair recruitment procedures are followed across all government departments and agencies. Equal opportunity must be provided to every deserving youth of Meghalaya, regardless of background or connections.
This concern is not mine alone but reflects the experiences of many unemployed youths across the state. I hope that through your newspaper, the voices of those seeking fairness and transparency will reach the authorities concerned and that corrective measures will be taken. If such issues continue to persist, frustration among the youth may only grow further.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email
Toil Without Wages: The Human Cost of Meghalaya’s Muster Roll Backlog
Editor,
Muster Roll workers are the invisible hands that keep Meghalaya running. When a water main bursts, they are the ones knee-deep in mud, ensuring that dry taps across the city flow again. When national highways crumble or public buildings require urgent repairs, they provide the sweat, blood, and muscle. Yet, for nearly three to four months now, hundreds of muster roll workers under the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and the Public Works Department (PWD) Roads and Buildings wings have been forced to work for absolutely nothing. Wages have been completely withheld since March, pushing these essential daily wage earners into a dark, suffocating abyss of unprecedented financial and mental distress. The Question of Survival
For a family dependent on high-salaried government employment, a delayed payment is an inconvenience. For a muster roll worker earning a minimum daily wage, it is a catastrophic emergency. How can a worker survive three to four months without a single rupee? How do they feed their families? The grim reality on the ground answers these questions in heartbreaking ways. Local shopkeepers, who previously provided essential food grains, rice, and dal on credit, are now closing their ledger books. Outstanding ration bills have piled up to heights that small neighborhood vendors can no longer sustain. Families are being forced to compromise on nutrition, cutting down meals just to make the remaining grains last. The crisis knocks heavily on every other door of their lives. Landlords are putting immense pressure on workers over months of unpaid house rent, threatening eviction. School authorities are demanding pending fees for their children, leaving parents with the agonizing choice of letting their children’s education lapse or facing public humiliation.
Yours etc.,
Banker Kharkongor,
Via email
