This question has again come to light after two persons died on the spot after the scooter they were travelling on was run over by an unknown vehicle at Dhankheti on Thursday early morning.

The deceased were identified as Bimal Warjri (18) and Pravan Lama (23) of Jhalupara Cantonment.

Since the accident happened in the early morning hours there was no witness. 'We do not know whether it was a truck or night super bus', police said.

However, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police AR Mawthoh has asked the police of Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi district to help in tracing the vehicle that ran over the two persons.

In the past, several people lost their lives due to rash and negligent driving by truck drivers during late night hours. So far nothing is done to curb this menace.

Though the only solution to this problem is to divert trucks through the Shillong Bye Pass. This project remains a distant dream even twenty five years after its inception.

There was a ray hope that the Shillong Bye-Pass would be speeded up after a major accident at Laitkor in August, 2006 which killed 10 people on the spot. Soon after this accident there was an urgency on the part of the government to put pressure on the Centre to sanction funds for the project at the earliest and an agreement was signed to construct a two-lane instead of the earlier proposal of a four-lane Shillong Bye Pass.

Meanwhile, reacting to this incident, the elder brother of Warjri informed that his brother left the house at around 6 am, but they were not aware that he was going to learn scooter driving. The scooter incidentally belongs to Lama.

A local taxi driver from the locality informed them about the incident at around 6.30 am, the elder brother said.

"As soon as we received this information we rushed to the spot but the body was already shifted to Shillong Civil Hospital," the elder brother said.

Warjri's brother also said that he did not know the details of the accident that killed his younger brother as the family were still in a state of shock adding, "No one in the family can believe that my brother is no more".

Warjri is awaiting his SSLC results.

Meanwhile, the relatives of Mr Pravan Lama refused to talk about this incident.

The accident throws up several questions one of which is the absence of any traffic control in the early hours of morning and the flip-flop traffic lights that worked for a few days and have now been laid to rest for reasons best known to the Police Department. Also the need to enforce speed limits in crowded areas such as Dhankheti is an issue that is being avidly discussed by morning walkers and pedestrians.

The arrested have been identified as Phon Syih, rangbah shnong of Thangskai village and a top official of Meghalaya Cement Ltd (MCL) and Adhunik Cement Ltd at Thangskai of Lumshnong area; Welcome Dkhar, a prominent resident of Khliehriat and Rangbah shnong of Nongsning village; Lambha Dhar and Susil Dkhar from Lailong village; Pyntngen Bareh from Rymbai village and Rangbahduh Khonglah, Lumshnong headman.

Talking to The Shillong Times, Jaintia Hills SP, MK Singh said the six persons were arrested based on confessional statements made by the HNLC rebels who were nabbed during the Wahlymbong encounter recently.

Mr Singh said the arrested had harboured HNLC members, besides helping the outfit with money and other goods. According to the SP, arrested HNLC activists Willender Diengdoh Marngar and Riskin Phawa had collected money to the tune of Rs 50000 from them.

Sources also said police could arrest in the coming days a good number of coal traders and businessmen of Jaintia Hills district for contributing money to HNLC. Some businessmen have reportedly fled their areas fearing arrest.

KHADC chairman Martamlin Pyrbot on Thursday said Mr Shylla would be called for hearing before any decision could be taken on his reply to the show-cause notice issued to him for violation of Anti Defection Law.

"Mr Shylla will be summoned very soon to appear in the hearing to clarify the complaint about his violation of the Anti-Defection Law," Mr Pyrbot told The Shillong Times, while indicating that the former CEM could be disqualified from the House.

According to Mr Pyrbot, under Rule 6 of Sub Rule 4 of the KHADC Prevention of Defection Act 2003, the chairman is authorised to summon any MDC for hearing if he is accused of defection.

"Mr Shylla has defied the party's whip, and it seems he will face disqualification from KHADC membership under the provisions of the Act. The reply of Mr Shylla holds no water," he said.

Stating that the complaint against Mr Shylla was logical and within the parameters of the KHADC Anti Defection Law, Mr Pyrbot said he would, however, consult legal experts before taking a final decision on the matter.

In his reply submitted to the KHADC chairman, Mr Shylla claimed that he had not done anything to attract disqualification, adding he still remained member of the Congress Party.

Meanwhile, the KHADC chairman said the Anti-Defection Act would not apply in the case of MDP MDC Plaslanding Iangjuh who defected to UDP ahead of the Assembly elections as he could do so with MDP having only two NDCs in a 30-member House.

Reacting to media reports of a Congress move to forge an alliance with NCP for formation of a coalition government in Meghalaya, NCP spokesman and general secretary DP Tripathi told mediapersons here that there was no question of tying up with Congress to form a government in Meghalaya.

Mr Tripathi alleged that Congress was trying to wean away at least eight MLAs from NCP to form a government in Meghalaya. He, however, said, "This (Congress plan) will never succeed."

Meghalaya Planning Board Chairman and NCP general secretary Purno A Sangma, who also addressed the Press, reacted sharply saying Mr Nongtdu's statement was absolutely false. He termed it 'the Congress party's pathetic attempt to gain power at any cost because they just cannot sit in the opposition'. Mr Sangma made it clear that under no circumstances would his party join hands with Congress in Meghalaya, and, that the very idea of having a Congress-NCP government in the State was a figment of imagination.

"The present (MPA) coalition would continue not only for five years but would remain intact even in the next term," Mr Sangma declared.

Asked if he and his minister son had any meeting with party president Sharad Pawar and whether they discussed the fall-out of the proposed Congress-NCP tie-up in Maharashtra on Meghalaya, Mr Sangma said they did meet Mr Pawar, but added, "The whole discussion was on development of the State." Mr Sangma further reiterated that what happens in Maharashtra is Mr Pawar's look-out. 'The political formula applied there will have no impact at all in Meghalaya' he said.

MPCC president on Wednesday night said, "Congress and NCP were in talks for pre-poll alliance in Maharashtra. Once the election agreement is finalised by the two parties there, the same formula could be followed in Meghalaya for formation of a new Congress-NCP coalition government."

Congress sources had also said the idea of a Congress-NCP government in the State was mooted by AICC during meetings with former Chief Minister DD Lapang and Mr Nongtdu in New Delhi.

Commenting on the statement of Mr Nongtdu, Mr Sangma said State Congress leaders were trying to fish in troubled waters by creating confusion about the nascent MPA coalition.

"The heinous game of the State Congress would not pay any dividend," he said.

When his attention was drawn to the alliance with BJP which, according to NCP, is a communal party in Maharasthra and at the Centre, Mr Tripathi said the situation in North-East was quite different from the rest of the country.

"MLAs in the North-East are more identified with their villages, clans and other factors rather than on ideological grounds," he said, adding, "NCP is also in alliance with BJP in states like Nagaland. In Meghalaya, both NCP and BJP have supported a government led by regional parties."

"We have decided to call off our proposed fast following fruitful discussion at the March-31 meeting with Education Minister Manas Chaudhuri and his assurance to look into our problems," MUPSTA general secretary Kenneth Shadap told The Shillong Times on Thursday.

SHILLONG: Land owners of Warsanlyngdoh in West Khasi Hills, the site of the proposed Kynshi hydro-power project, have decided to oppose any move to allot the project to private firms, while urging the MPA Government to hand over the project to NEEPCO.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, land owners under the banner of Seng Trai Khyndew Warsanlyngdoh (STKW) asked the State Government to immediately scrap the power deal inked by the previous MDA Government and threatened to stop any employees of private companies from setting foot in the area to execute the project.

"We want the State Government to hand over the project to NEEPCO as has been agreed earlier. The present government, which has been formed by parties that contested the Assembly elections on the issue of power deal, should immediately scrap the controversial deal ," STKW secretary Hamlesman Lyngdoh said.

The land owners also resented the stand taken by Acting Syiem of Nongstoin Phylla Sing Syiem supporting the move to hand over the project to private companies.

"We strongly condemn the controversial stand of the Acting Syiem on the issue. He also did not seek our consent as land owners. Even the headmen of the area was not consulted on this matter," Roshen Myrthong, also president of Warsanlyngdoh Youth Awakening Federation (WYAF), alleged. The land owners also met Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee to let him know their stand on the issue. Mr Chatterjee is chairman of the Special Committee, constituted by the MDA Government, to study the pros and cons of the power deal.

Besides four other power projects, the two-stage Kynshi project had been handed over by the previous government to Athena Power Private Limited (APPL) and Jay Pee Group. The MDA Government, however, decided to keep the power deals in abeyance following a series of protests by NGOs and political parties.

TURA: In a day of hectic political maneuvers in the GHADC where the swearing in of the new NCP-led Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA) Executive Committee headed by Alphonse A Sangma was to take place on Thursday, it was replaced by voting through secret ballot following a fresh bid to retain power by the Congress. The NCP-led alliance managed to sail through but with a wafer -thin majority of two votes following cross voting by two MDCs from their alliance. The secret ballot was necessitated as the outgoing Congress led Executive Committee headed by Ebelson A Sangma reportedly received 'feelers' from some disgruntled members of the newly-formed GHPA and sought a floor test.

Prior to the casting of votes through secret ballot, the NCP-led GHPA had 17 members in its side, while the Congress was with 11 members. Congress MDC from Selsella, Clement Marak, was absent throughout the ongoing session. When the results of the voting was announced the NCP alliance had secured 15 votes against the Congress's 13, the latter gaining two votes to their side. The NCP had deputed its leader Admiral K Sangma, and two sitting MLAs, John Manner K Marak and Adolf Lu Hitler Marak, to oversee the smooth transfer of power in the council.

SHILLONG: Former legislator Process T Sawkmie has been appointed as co-chairman of Meghalaya State Development Reforms Commission (MSDRC) with facilities of a co-chairman of 'A' category.

SHILLONG : Pinewood Hotel was a joyful rendezvous. Echoing with music and laughter the hotel came alive as the African guests filed in to the banquet hall at Pinewood. After a hectic programme of sight-seeing, a football match and an interesting tete-a-tete with the State Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy, the 39-member delegation from Africa had an evening of pure entertainment. The State Government played excellent host. They organised a cultural programme cum fashion show for the guests.

Walking the ramp were petite models showcasing the rich weaves of North East India. The models also sported the latest designer wear from Daniel Syiem, Meghalaya's leading fashion designer. Daniel uses locally produced weaves for his dresses. To give an electric effect to the otherwise staid 'ryndia' Daniel uses shades of ochre and red vegetable dies to collection.

The African guests went ga-ga over the ensembles. They waved and cheered as the models sashayed down the makeshift ramp. The Lyngwa sisters Wari and Marvel crooned some delightful numbers to the audience's delight. Feeling completely at home in the ambiance the energetic guests sang and danced away the evening. Although there were only seven women in the team, they stole the show with their stage performance.

Speaking to this correspondent an African diplomat accompanying the team said he found Shillong very interesting and different from Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Accompanying the team is Joint Secretary, Technical Cooperation, Ministry of External Affairs, Ms Primrose Sharma, who is originally from Ukhrul, Manipur.

Ms Sharma informed that the delegation had visited Infosys in Bangalore and other units in Ahmedabad. Her purpose of bringing them here was to expose them to a culture similar to that of Africa in terms of the varied ethnicities. Louise from the tiny African country of Benin said there were more than 300 ethnic groups with as many dialects in his country.

What fascinated the guests were the traditional Khasi music because they said the musical instruments and the beats were similar to theirs. They were also very appreciative of the Don Bosco Museum and the sights and sounds that followed the guided tour.

The African team leave for Delhi on Friday from where they will proceed to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

SHILLONG: The mobile phone is an indispensable part of life in the 21st century. Service providers in their enthusiasm to expand networks often forget the business ethics that expansion cannot happen at the expense of reliable connectivity.

In the last couple of months, BSNL mobile users have encountered a peculiar problem. They find themselves disconnected in the midst of a conversation. Says an irate user, "A conversation of one minute requires at least two redials. This is really disgusting!" Young romantic types who tend to have longer conversations are worst affected by this queer phenomenon. A college student said "Sometimes you are talking animatedly until you realize there is a curious silence at the end of the line. Then you realize you were talking to yourself. It feels so idiotic".

Relations can even turn sour as the caller could feel that the person at the other end of the line has disconnected for whatever reasons. 'This has happened to me so many times while talking to a client. It's so embarrassing", says Donna Lyngdoh a salesperson. Some politicians complained that during the last elections they suddenly got disconnected while talking to their constituency leaders, that they started suspected them of defection.

The Shillong Times spoke to General Manager Operations (Mobiles), Ms SK Radha about the problem. She was pleasantly surprised. "This is the first time that such a problem is brought to our notice. Now that you are saying it we shall investigate the matter", she said. Obviously this peculiar affliction does not affect the Telecom establishment because the different officials spoken to all feign ignorance. But a problem it is for the mobile user!

SHILLONG: Few tax payers remember when taxes were last revised by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB). Yet attempts to review the taxes have met with stiff opposition. Is this fair? ST asked a cross section of tax payers their views. Toki Blah, President, ICARE, says, ‘Firstly, let us face facts and the foremost is that in any urban setup many of the public services that we enjoy are provided by Government agencies , of which the Shillong Municipal Board is one. The SMB has large overheads . It has little sources of income to meet these demands and so a raise in house tax is obviously part of the solution. This is the perspective from the SMB point of view. As a member of the Shillong public I have no hesitation to pay for services rendered provided the services are adequate and meet my expectations. In the case of the SMB proposals for a tax hike, the first question that arises is, are the proposals justified vis a vis the services provided ? The answer is a definite NO’.

Citizens complain of major shortcomings in drinking water supply. Demand has overtaken supply yet people continue to depend on an old, decrepit system. This has compelled citizens to depend on plumbers who manipulate the distribution system depending on who is paying money to them. There is no proper supervision and control over supply. Tax payers naturally feel cheated over services rendered by SMB.

Others like R Lyngdoh complain about the pathetic garbage collection and sanitation services. At present these activities are handled by local dorbars. There is no co-ordinated approach towards disposal of the city’s solid waste. They say that everything is approaching near breakdown with no solution in sight. Citizens ask why they should pay when everything is in a state of virtual collapse. The SMB authorities retort that they cannot provide modern facilities on a revenue model that is no longer sustainable.

Ms M Dkhar a resident of Jaiaw adds, ‘Look at the disposal of liquid waste. The whole town is approaching a disaster point. Even main roads are now stinking cess pools where there is open discharge of waste into public drains. People have been encouraged to go in for Septic Tanks but the SMB has made no provision for efficient and sanitary cleaning of filled up tanks. Shillong is facing a crisis in waste disposal and the SMB has no answer in sight’.

Elderly citizens ask, ‘Who is to blame for the pollution of Wahumkhrah ? Is it not SMB negligence?’ They point to the total absence of transparency and coherence in implementing building rules. Even traffic management is such that pedestrians 

have no right of way as footpaths are crowded with hawkers.

So is there a solution in sight? If so what? Toki Blah says, ‘The SMB is a superseded body with a single bureaucrat taking decisions on behalf of everyone. Why can’t we have public representatives to make decisions on our behalf? Why is the Government shying away from elections to the SMB?’, he rues.

While most people have no quarrel with raising taxes but they are suspicious of the manner in which House tax assessments are made. Sisir Shahoo says, ‘We need a more standardized and scientific method of assessment. ‘What happened to the Geographical Information System (GIS) put in place by the Aus-Aid Project a couple of years ago? ‘That system would have allowed a peek into every type of home within the SMB and allowed a realistic evaluation’, Echoing Shahoo,, Blah asks, ‘Why can’t a client based online system of assessment be conducted so that what ever assessment is made is done through what the house owner himself has filled in, instead of what employees of the Board feel should be filled in’.

According to reports, the Meghalaya House building located at Rehabari, Guwahati has plunged into complete darkness since withdrawal of power supply by Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) two weeks ago due to non-payment of electricity bills amounting to Rs 60,000 by the House authorities for the last four months. Absence of electricity has also rendered the water pump there non-functional, causing water crisis at the House. Several people from the State who wanted to stay at Meghalaya House recently had to put up in private hotels of Guwahati city.

Meanwhile, power supply was restored to the building on Wednesday after the House authorities cleared the outstanding electricity bill.

In a joint meeting of all its teaching and non-teaching staff on Thursday, Shillong Law College decided to unanimously raise protest against the "false propaganda" by a section of the local media.

It is improper to allege racial discrimination against a lecturer of the college on the basis of "unverified reports", college principal ODV Ladia stated in a press release.

However, Mr Ladia mentioned nothing to deny the particular charge made by a section of the students against the lecturer, FL Nonglait. The students recently staged a demonstration on the college premises demanding removal of the lady lecturer for her "usual racial remarks".

There is also no mention about any steps being taken by the college authorities to inquire into the charges made by the students against the lecturer.

According to the principal, "Shillong Law College is above all such vices. None among the college management, faculty members and office staff have discriminated the students on the basis of race, sex and religion."

The two organisations urged Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy to immediately intervene in the matter in order to scrap the deal between NEIGRIHMS and Frontier Lifeline of Chennai on handing over of the functioning of the Cardiology department of the hospital to the private company.

NEPF and HNPF on Thursday apprehended that if the deal was materialized, NEIGRHIMS's primary objective to serve the backward people of North-East will no longer exist. "

Some vested interest groups inspired by Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramados are trying to ruin the hospital for their personal gains," they alleged.

SHILLONG: In a bid to encourage people's participation in development activities, UDP legislator from Nongkrem Ardent M Basaiawmoit will hold a rally at Lad Nongkrem Ground on April 7 to discuss the agenda of development for his constituency.

Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Mr Basaiawmoit, also chairman of Meghalaya Minerals Development Corporation (MMDC), said he had listed out the thrust areas for development which would be announced at the rally.

"Development issues, which are my priorities as the new legislator of the constituency, will be discussed at the rally," Mr Basaiawmoit said.

Stating that health, education and livelihood would be his thrust areas for the constituency, Mr Basaiawmoit said he would take steps for solving the problem of traffic jam from Laitkor to Nongthymmai that had severely affected people of the constituency.

"Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for people of my constituency but, due to certain bottlenecks, most of them have shifted focus to other means of livelihood," Mr Basaiawmoit said, adding marketing problem, high cost of production and lack of incentives from the government were some of the factors that required immediate attention.

While expressing concern over the dependence of people on legislators for petty things like money to buy medicines, textbooks and other freebies, the former FKJGP president said people needed to be economically uplifted right from the grassroots level.

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Upper Primary School Teachers' Association (MUPSTA) has called off its proposed hunger strike from Friday following assurance from the State Government to look into its demands.

"We have decided to call off our proposed fast following fruitful discussion at the March-31 meeting with Education Minister Manas Chaudhuri and his assurance to look into our problems," MUPSTA general secretary Kenneth Shadap told The Shillong Times on Thursday.

Mr Shadap said Mr Chaudhuri had assured MUPSTA of looking into the various issues raised by the Association relating to hike in prices of textbooks and frequent change of syllabus which, according to the teachers' body, had severely affected parents as well as students.

According to Mr Shadap, the Education Minister also assured the Association of going into the issue of alleged wastage of money under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) which was meant for purchase of books. Mr Chaudhuri also said there was a need for setting up book banks in the State.

"We want to have proper monitoring of the whole process and follow-up action on this issue. We are happy that the Minister has sought our cooperation towards streamlining the education system in the State," the MUPSTA general secretary said.

The decision to call off the agitation was taken at a joint meeting of leaders of MUPSTA, Khasi Hills Ad-hoc Secondary Teachers' Association (KHASTA) and other organisations, including FKJGP, KSU, SSSS and People's Movement of Sohra Constituency (PMSC).

Mr Shadap further said the meeting decided to write to the State Government, seeking to know the present status of the State Education Commission and also demanding revamp of the Commission by including representatives of teachers' associations, prominent NGOs and academicians.

While deciding to submit their views on the draft Education Policy, all the seven organisations fixed April 19 as the date for their next meeting to discuss the issues to be incorporated in the draft policy in order to make it more comprehensive.

A Joint Action Committee of teachers' bodies and NGOs will be constituted soon to pursue education-related matters.

SHILLONG: Amid growing concern among environmentalists over dwindling tiger population in the country, the State Forest and Environment Department has claimed that Meghalaya has at least 25 tigers, all of them in Garo Hills.

While saying that 25 tigers existed in Meghalaya as per latest tiger Census, the Conservator of Forest (Wildlife and Territorial), Tura, in a statement issued here on Thursday, termed as wrong recent news reports of absence of tigers in the State and added that though the State was not covered under 'Project Tiger', a number of big cats had been sighted in Garo Hills region.

"Meghalaya does not have any 'Project Tiger' as no funds have been given to our State for tiger conservation under the project. This should not imply that the State has no tigers," the Forest official said, while pointing out that reports had been received of tiger attacks on cattle reared in the forest areas of Garo Hills.

The recent survey conducted in 'Project Tiger' areas of the country had shown that the tiger population had gone down to only 1411.

SHILLONG: In a strange case of cheating, a truck driver was found to be duping the owner of the truck by using two number plates, the duplicate one for exporting coal by the driver himself.

Police apprehended the driver, Elvistar Dohling of Madanriting on Wednesday from Lad Rymbai for using two numbers plates in the truck.

According to police, the driver was using the duplicate number plate in order to export coal on his own without the knowledge of the owner.

After a complaint from the owner police caught the driver red handed when he was driving with the duplicate number.

However, he was released following a "settlement" with the owner and the case was withdrawn.

Meanwhile, sources informed that using two number plates is a grievous crime and it was surprising on the part of police authorities as to how they released the person without taking any action against him.

The sources also informed that the truck driver, after his release, alleged that one sub-inspector, BM Marak, demanded Rs 43,000 from him to withdraw the charges against him.

Governments make many pious statements about what they intend to do for the 'aam aadmi'. In fact much of the planning is done by those sitting in swanky chairs in that envious comfort zone called the Secretariat. There is a major problem here. First, the planners have no experience of poverty. If they were born poor they have long since moved up the social and economic ladder and have forgotten how it feels like when basic human needs have exceeded their means of income.

Secondly, being so far removed from the squatters of poverty the plans are bound to be unrealistic and fail at the first flush because when you plan for something you know nothing about there is only one way you can go. And that is down the dark hole of failed projects. If you follow the wrong road map how can you reach your destination? Simple logic! But the babus do not understand this basic wisdom. So what do they do? They continue to be defensive even about failed schemes as if they were spending their own money.

Let us look at education in Meghalaya. It has become for many an expensive proposition. Granted that educational institutions need to make their quick bucks but why at the cost of the poor? Fees in most of so-called minority institutions have hit the roof. Since the minority tag allows them to go about with complete insouciance about how it affects the common man and the Government belts out its standard excuse of 'not being able to interfere in the fee structure of private institutions', what you have is a pot-pourri of private players getting away with the crime of commercializing and capitalizing education while the common man gets the short end of the stick.

This is not to say that minority and private educational institutions do not provide quality education. Of course they do. In fact the dictum here seems to be, 'what you pay is what you get'. Hence they also attract the upwardly mobile lot. But in the bargain naturally sieve out the large majority who cannot afford to pay for services rendered. Again very simple economics! Parents should learn to cut their coats according to the cloth. They must look for cheaper options such as government-aided or government schools.

In Meghalaya, many schools come under the deficit system of grants-in-aid. They are run by managing committees which are not accountable to the Government and they prefer to enjoy that independence. This is all fine except that they do not exercise any executive control on the institutions. Principals decide everything. So they insist on a set of uniforms that most students cannot afford. They also make it compulsory for students to buy exercise books at a premium from designated stores. Schools would have done a great service to society had they set up a corpus for text and copy book grants for poor students. They are easily identifiable. One has come across students whose parents are unable to purchase books even after half the academic year has passed. And teachers cannot insist unless they can find donors to help buy those books. If students could choose between uniforms and books they would choose the latter. It is heart-breaking to see students who seriously want to pursue their courses but have to discontinue because they find education too expensive.

In my career as a teacher I have witnessed many students dropping out at Classes VII-IX. Many of them are today driving taxis or auto rickshaws having wasted almost eight years at school learning perhaps nothing that is worth retaining except perhaps some lasting values. But if, as psychologists say, values are caught, not taught, then I wonder what they really carry back with them after years of education. It is a crime to have promoted a student up to Class IX and then to finally announce that she does not qualify to appear her Senior School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination as a regular candidate. And why? Merely because schools want to show a hundred per cent pass profile for public consumption!. A student who fails the SSLC cannot come back to the same school. She has to look for admission elsewhere. And we all know what that means. It means investment in a new set of uniforms and admission fees et al. What an awful system we have devised to make it difficult for students to achieve anything in life. And we dare talk of youth policies after all this?

It is imperative for Government to have a policy for school drop-outs. They have to be accommodated into an alternative system which is not just going to assess their academic skills but is more vocational in nature. If they can afford to, they can enroll for a regular vocational course. If not, the courses should be flexibly designed to admit students who are already working and can only spare time for evening classes. This is a very serious matter so it deserves to be given due importance. When young people's skills are built in their respective areas of strength we can expect them to generate employment not only for themselves but for others as well. This is the only way that Meghalaya can tackle unemployment. Every other promise of employment generation by politicians is a sham.

When I raise the issue of urban poverty with academicians who rely on the NSSO reports as they do the Bible, the answer I always get is that urban poverty is not a reality in Meghalaya. The problem is that statistics are never contradicted especially when organizations with some credibility carry out surveys. But it is important to bring out the realities as they exist even in small pockets because these are problems that the State should tackle.

Lest globalization plays tricks with our minds, let us remember that India is a welfare state where health and education have to be largely funded by the State. We cannot contract out education to private parties and be happy to see some results merely because the system of merit is so faulty. For every single affluent kid who does well there are twenty others who could do better if given half the chance. Why does government ignore this potential section which needs a little push and some hand-holding? Why do we prefer to pamper those already well-placed to access both the state and non-state systems?

Education in Meghalaya has always been elitist. I have the experience of once being sent home from school for not being able to pay the fees on time. The experience rankles. It also makes you wonder why those in charge of education should be so insensitive. Instead of sending a ten-year old home it would have made more sense if they had accompanied her home to find out how she lives and why her single parent is unable to pay the mandatory school fees.

The practice of heaping humiliation on the less fortunate continues to this day. Not for a moment do we stop to think that such insults in the formative years of a child could leave behind scars that never really heal. Thankfully, many who go through such experiences have learnt to move on and forgive the world and their victimizers. But what about those who don't?

Sometimes it makes one shudder to think that education should turn into a mercenary activity. When Gandhi said that education is the holistic development of the human person he probably had in mind his concept of Basic Education which is all but wiped out today. Gandhi could never envisage that education would be out of the reach of many of his countrymen today.

When the Congress establishment deputed A.K. Antony and Oscar Fernandes to Union Cabinet, it had two objectives: to strike a balance within the cabinet and to ward off the by now rampant defence scandals. The induction happened when the government went on announcing too many decisions as part of its reform agenda to be obstructed by the supporting Left. Even allies like the DMK had at times backed the Left on issues like PSU privatisation. Within the Cabinet, moderation and caution became the casualty.

The advantage of being Antony and Oscar has been that they joined the ministry without the kind of baggage Arjun Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar had carried. With tact and the Establishment’s full backing, Oscar never had any brush with the Left on labour issues. A ‘Core Group’ member, Antony has the distinction of being a field hand among the academics and apparatchik. He can see the implications of actions beyond the board rooms and media bustle. Yet, sadly for Antony, the moment he took up the job, his ministerial brief began getting widened.

Now it is no more confined to routine defence planning and the assigned task of scandal busting. Suddenly, India’s defence has become more of world diplomacy and international intrigue. Even serious issues involving the reversal of accepted national policies are sought to be left to the decision of a South Bloc babu or a commander down the line. During the Chandra Shekhar regime, there were heated debates on permission for US military over flights. Base facilities for foreign troops were unthinkable. Now under the UPA, Naval commanders casually permit anchoring of US Seventh Fleet ships (at Chennai) port for refueling and recreation – as if we are a NATO or Warsaw pact country.

And the Defence Minister had to tell them that in future they should refer such decisions to him. A few days back we had in these columns dealt with how Indian bases were sought to be opened up for US defence forces on a permanent basis and how A.K. Antony had objected to it. He took a similar position when over half a dozen crucial defence agreements – like foreign use of Indian base facilities on a regular basis, blanket permission for foreigners for periodic inspection of Indian military items like fighters and tanks – were to be made obligatory under the Framework Agreement with the US.

Antony had resisted such blanket moves when they were brought for Cabinet approval. He stood his ground when the US Defence Secretary recently rushed to Delhi to force the issue personally with the minister. The offer of US missile defence system is another issue that needed wider national debate rather then any backdoor entry. At the moment, the biggest challenge for Antony is how to deal with the Israeli violation of India’s post-Bofors no-middleman condition for defence deals. Israel has violated it with impunity, and the whole issue is under CBI inquiry.

The CVC is concerned about it and the Law Ministry had suggested discontinuation of deals with the erring Israeli firms. Sane thing had happened to the French. During president Sarkozi’s recent visit to India, the French team had highlighted the ‘double talk’ in suspending the deal with the French and ignoring rules when it comes to the Israelis. The four Left parties have now demanded action against the ‘tainted’ Israelis for giving ‘illegal kickbacks’ to officials and ‘systematically violating Indian laws’.

Antony finds himself in a dharm sankat with the powerful Jew lobby right from the White House putting pressure to bail out the Israeli firms. The supportive media, senior colleagues and officials all come up with arguments like the Israeli hardware are the best, and in case of a freeze it will cripple the forces. But then, similar arguments were put forth even in the case of Bofors. BJP’s Jaswant Singh, an avid Bofors scandal warrior, after a demonstration of the gun, had said: ‘As a soldier, I can say it’s a marvellous machine.’ Quality and indispensability can be applied in every case to wink at kickbacks.

For Antony, with all his carefully cultivated ‘Mr. Clean’ image, a compromise on such scandals is going to be the defining moment. There is the fear of others tarnishing him in their future memoirs as the real sinner. Much of the defence muddles emanate from his predecessor’s rash decisions during his 29 months in office. This month Antony has completed 17 months. But within the very first month he could realise the enormity of the mess left behind by the system. Purchase of an obsolete US aircraft carrier – Trenton renamed Jalashwa – at Rs. 202 crores without proper technical assessment has come in for CAG’s severe admonition.

Six people on board Jalashwa died of gas leak. One of the many conditions attached to the deal is that the ship cannot be used for war without the written permission from the US. Then what is a war ship for, CAG asks. US can any time inspect Jalashwa even after we paid the full price. This has raised speculations about similar strings attached to a series of subsequent mega deals for US hardware, including aircraft. There has been demand for the revelation of such concealed conditionalities in all recent commercial defence acquisitions.

Another trend is to pass on sensitive political/diplomatic decisions to the Defence Minister. This is more a reflection of the existing power play within the main ruling party. Hence US officials coming to push the joint missile defence system are being told to get Antony’s clearance even though it is a wider diplomatic issue. The same happened in the case of India launching Israeli spy satellite that has invited the Muslim ire. Then there is the burden of too many joint military exercises and what is described as growing trend of ‘military circuses’. The joint exercises as a frequent feature began as part of Pranab Mukherjee’s enthusiasm for integrating defence forces with the US under the Framework Agreement.

When protests came, it was decided to hold token exercises with others as well – like Russia, France, UK and China. Thus we had as many as 60 joint exercises in a short span. After Antony took over, there seems to be some respite. Many retired defence personnel don’t find any use of too many exercises with all and sundry during which there have been cases of officers deserting. And now we have the ‘military circus’ – like ‘desert storm’ in the presence of military attaches, war experts and, of course, the global arms venders. While our own exercises are conducted as an international show, joint exercises are held in secret, even unannounced. All this adds to Antony’s worries.

Madam,

Apropos the letter "Enough of Lapang bashing" by Ms. Thymmeibaiar Makdoh (ST, March 26) , I would request the author to go beyond Iewmawlong say at least 30 Kms or so within the Constituency of Nongpoh to see whether what she said about Nongpoh constituency having all the facilities is true. I wonder if she has traveled 25 Kms away from Iewmawlong to the remote villages like Belkuri, Marmain, Khuswai, Korstep, Umjong, Khongwing to name a few (for sure I know Ms. Makdoh has not heard these names before) from where the votes of our esteemed MLA increased by leaps and bounds. Can Ms Makdoh imagine that just few days ago a pregnant lady was physically lifted by people in a carrier to reach the nearby PHE at Umden from Belkuri because that is the nearest PHE. The road from Belkuri to Umden is so bad that if the lady had been taken by car she would have delivered on the way. This is to say that what Ms. Makdoh has pointed is not all truth, I know it hurts. To reveal the truth of the last election let me write it here: three days before the voting day, we who live in the Hima of U Syiem Mylliem were threatened that if we do not vote for DD Lapang we would be thrown out from the Elaka….. Worse, on the election day a man named Bir with his gun and car was moving around asking the people to vote for DD Lapang. Fortunately the CRP were quick to reach the place and managed to nab the gun and car but Bir escaped to Assam. So now you know why the number of votes for DD Lapang rose up from our areas here. Finally I would like to ask Ms. Makdoh to come out of her cocoon of Iewmawlong and see for herself the plight of majority of people in the constituency.

Yours sincerely,
B. Ingtieh
Marmain

Madam,

I am a citizen of Nongpoh constituency. Though politics is not my cup of tea yet I do know what is going on in this constituency. B.Mawrie & Khasi Catholic Students, Italy do have a point in saying that we the citizens of Nongpoh Constituency were influenced by money power to elect Dr DD Lapang.

As a regular reader of The Shillong Times, I would like to share my views on the letter of Ms. Thymmeibaiar Makdoh Iewmawlong, Nongpoh, published in your esteemed daily on March 26, 2008.

Ms. Thymmeibaiar Makdoh has deep appreciation for DD Lapang with regards to the services that he rendered to the Nongpoh Constituency. She spoke so well of him, as the champion for creation of Ri Bhoi District. I wish to pose a question here. Is it enough for a woman to give birth to a child and leave it uncared? I agree that Mr. Lapang initiated the creation of Ri Bhoi District, but how much has he done for the constituency from where he has been elected for two consecutive terms except for collecting wealth enough for himself.

If Dr. D.D. Lapang has rendered service to Nongpoh Constituency which deserve the appreciation and credit which no other MLA could possibly claim then why did the RBYF have to repair the Shillong- Guwahati road? Is this the service that Ma Heh Lapang has done for his constituency?

Ms Makdoh said that Nongpoh has no shortage of water supply and that the water supply schemes are functioning well and the credit should go to our elected representative. How far from the truth is that? Let me state a fact. Last year I was visiting one of my friends in Nongpoh Civil Hospital. The place was a complete mess. There was no water in the hospital and the room where my friend was sleeping was stinking. Would you still say that we have no scarcity of water?

Ms. Thymmeibaiar Makdoh also pointed out that we do not elect distributors of umbrellas, slippers, blankets and jainsems from our constituency. I am not so sure about that because if we are honest to ourselves then we do accept money from Dr. Lapang.

Yours etc.,
Raphael R Maiong
Via e-mail

The Chief Minister requested TR Balu to declare a new national highway of about 180 km in the State connecting Keitum on NH 54 and Zokhawthar Trade Center at Myanmar border to provide shorter trade route to southern parts of Mizoram. He also requested to consider the construction of 117 km road connecting Myanmar border and Nalkawn on NH 54 which lies entirely in Mizoram.

The Union Minister informed the Chief Minister that the Annual Plan programme of Rs 120 crore has been drawn for Mizoram and the same has already been sent to the State Government for sanctioning of works of national highways during 2008-09.

The Minister also informed him that sanctions for works under various plans/schemes aggregating to Rs 78 crore were issued by the Ministry during 2007-08.

Both India and Mynamar signed the Rs 535.91 crore multi-modal transit transport project at Sittwe Port linking Kaladan river to Myanmar, which India will use for improving access to the North-Eastern states.

The money will also be used for construction of a road from Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa) to the India-Myanmar border."The project will provide an access to Mizoram and to other North-Eastern states as well as an outlet to the sea," an official statement had said.

The deal was signed last night during the visit of Vice Senior General Maung Aye to New Delhi and , is aimed at cutting transport time between the India’s mainland and remote North East. It will also give India a foothold on the Myanmar city of Sittwe, on an island near the mouth of the Kaladan river, which will become the onshore hub of Myanmar's gas industry once vast reserves in the Shwe fields in the Bay of Bengal are developed.

Maung is the second topmost leader in the military regime. During his two day long visit he met President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and other top leaders of India. Both the countries also signed several other agreements before the general left for visiting Buddhist sites in Eastern India.

India and Myanmar share a border of about 1,600km. The Union Minister for DoNER, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar and Union Minister of state for Commerce Mr Jairam Ramesh are deeply interested in the port project for the commercial interest of the region.

New Delhi: F Silkam Sangma, a student leader from Meghalaya will represent the State in the Bureau of Legal Aid which has been created exclusively for the north-eastern region.

Mr Sangma has been felicitated as a Brand Ambassador for Justice by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in the presence of the Chief Justice of India and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Women’s Rights and Empowerment here recently.

The Bureau was set up following the National Conclave on Access to Justice for Women of the North-East.

There will be one student representative from each state in the Bureau, a representative each from the governments of the respective eight state governments of the North-East and representatives of the NALSA apart from the officials of the Delhi State Legal Services Authority.

Justice Sharma, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who hails from Assam, convened a meeting on April 1.

The meeting was attended by the National Advisor to the NALSA, the Member Secretary to the NALSA and other student leaders of the different states who come under the banner of North East Students United Forum Delhi (NESUFD).

The meeting was held to discuss the modalities on how to set up the Legal Aid Bureau for the North-East with special emphasis on protection to women’s rights under the Delhi State Legal Service Authority.