However, to speed up the project, the government requested the Union Ministry to implement the scheme in two phases -- at first two-lane and later widening the road to four-lane.

Mr Sangma said the draft DPR for two-lane was submitted by the consultant to the National High Ways Authority of India. To another question, Mr Sangma said that four laning of NH44 from Mawryngkneng to Jowai including the construction of four-lane Jowai bypass was being implemented by the Centre. A consultant has been engaged for preparation of DPR. He said for Shillong bypass Rs 7.74 crore has been spent till date.

Delayed Dawki bridge

The work on Dawki bridge sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on March 2000, was desanctioned by the Ministry in 2006 for a better design of the project, Mr Sangma said.

Replying to a question by K Susngi (UDP), Mr Sangma said that the ministry had issued a fresh advertisement inviting proposals from consultants for the design of the bridge.

To a supplementary question by PT Sawkmie (MDP), the Minister first said that Real India Technical Services had worked out the design for the project, but later corrected the answer saying that it was State PWD, which designed the project.

Answering a question raised by PM Syiem (Ind), Mr Lapang said that as uranium is the mineral needed by the nation, but at the same time the government has to respect the sentiments of the people of the State.

Referring to the comments of President APJ Abdul Kalam during his recent visit to Shillong that health measures will be ensured while undertaking uranium mining, Mr Lapang said that the government was exploring ways and means to convince the NGOs and land owners to arrive at an acceptable solution to the problem of uranium mining in the State.

Mr Lapang, however, said that the State government could not back out from the need of the Centre to mine uranium as Meghalaya is part and parcel of India. He assured the House that people's sentiments would have to be respected before taking any decision to ago ahead with the mining.

Replying to supplementary questions, Mr Lapang said that the uranium reserve in the State is 140 million tonnes of ore.

Uranium deposits are found at Kylleng Pyndengsohiong, Mawthabah and Wahkyn in West Khasi Hills and the process of framing a mining policy is in progress. Mr Lapang also said that other mineral deposits in the State are coal, limestone, granite, kalone, clay and glass sand.

The arrested cadres are -- Khainborlang Kharwaniang, Mayborn Rapthap and Victor Rumnong.

It may be mentioned that Thwelson Manik Syiem (one of the candidate for Syiem of Hima Mylliem), Spin Parluh Nongbsap, Thickson War Nongjri, Basterwell Pathaw, Rudolph Kharbudnah (all Myntris of Hima Mylliem) and one Ahmed were kidnapped from Laitkor on February 22.

All the six were released on the same day after the election process was over.

In a letter to Commissioner and Secretary Health and Family Welfare, P Naik, the MMSA stated, "the State government through the Health and Family Welfare department is still continuing with the tinkering of the health service."

SHILLONG: The State legislators on Friday expressed concern over the faulty enumeration of the voters and omission of the names of eligible voters despite having the EPICs from previous enumerations. Moving a cut motion on the matter, Independent member Manas Chaudhuri said at least the names of 2000 people have been missing from the electoral rolls in his constituency alone.

Among the 2000 voters, most of them as EPIC holders from the previous enumerations.

Mr Chaudhuri urged upon the officials, while disposing of claims for inclusions of names not to go by whims and fancies but adhere to the law of the land. He said he would be compelled to move the court if any bonafide voter was denied his right to franchise.

He also pointed out that in Dawki, genuine Indian citizens were deprived of their basic rights to vote, as their names were not included in the voters' list for the past 30 years.

Participating in the discussion, Tonsing Marak (Cong) said that the introduction of EPIC was very much necessary for the smooth conduct of the polls. He suggested that all eligible voters should be covered under EPIC as at present there are many voters who still depend on the certificates issued from Nokmas and other traditional bodies.

Mr Marak also brought to the notice of the government the negligence on the part of enumerators. He also pointed out that as per the present system, many villagers are asked to come to one place for the sake of enumeration, which is not viable as many villagers from far-flung areas find it difficult to come to one particular centre.  Mr Marak also said that the names of many previous EPIC holders were deleted from the electoral rolls.

AL Hek(BJP) said that as EPIC is a very important document, there should not be any omission of names.

In his reply, the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Election Dr Mukul Sangma said that all steps would be taken to ensure that genuine voters are not deprived of their rights.

"We need cooperation of all political parties, the citizens, NGOs and the enumerators to have fair enumeration of voters," Dr Mukul added.

"At present I know nothing but I have asked for a report in this regard from the MeSEB. By Monday I will be able to get a clear picture," Mr Varma said while speaking to The Shillong Times here on Friday.

The Shillong Times had on April 12 reported about the MeSEB's procurement of 50,000 electro-mechanical meters from two companies at a whopping cost of Rs 21.7 crore despite the CEA guidelines to all electricity boards of the country that all meters including consumer meters should be "static electronic meters".

On the recent complaint by contractors of not being able to realise their cheques issued by various departments amounting to around Rs 5 crore as they were rejected by the State Bank of India, Mr Varma who also holds Finance department said all the contractors would be issued new cheques by the government very soon.

In an official statement, the government said the issues arising out of the implementation of HSRP were under active consideration of the concerned authorities.

The Chief Minister also recently discussed the matter with high-level officials.

JACC's fresh stir

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Coordination Committee (JACC) of transporters demanding reduction of the rate of HSRP will announce its fresh agitational programmes on Saturday.

The JACC has been compelled by the State government to take up fresh agitations by not responding to the former's repeated pleas, JACC chairman A Shanpru said. On March 6, the then Transport Minister Manirul Islam Sarkar had decided to cancel the HSRP contract awarded to Shimnit Utsch India Private Limited, according to Mr Shanpru. Chief Minister DD Lapang had also assured to take up the matter in the Assembly, he said.

Transport Minister Mrs Deborah Marak assured that she would review the feasibility of the proposal after the ongoing Assembly session.

"I do not know as to why the much-awaited project has not been materialized so far," she said.

Starting a bus service between Shillong and Sylhet was a suggestion of the Central Government and it was agreed upon by Chief Minister DD Lapang four years ago. The then Transport Minister Manirul Islam Sarkar also had given a written consent to the Centre for opening the route in August, 2003 that the project could go ahead.

It was believed that the southern gate that links Meghalaya and Bangladesh helped in the spread of Christianity, Brahma movement and Islam in the region.

This route, which was operational during the British regime, was partially closed in 1947 after the Partition. The emergence of Bangladesh in 1971 led to complete closure of the route.

The Centre also endorsed the proposal in order to renew the age-old economic, socio-cultural ties between the two cosmopolitan towns -- Shillong and Sylhet.

It was hoped that tourism, trade and commerce activities would flourish once the bus service is initiated.

In a letter to the State Chief Electoral Officer, the Union said people of Ri War Mihngi area wanted the Delimitation Commission not to abolish the two constituencies.

At present, the Riwar Mihngi area which is large both in terms of size and population (one lakh) with around 150 villages, has two elected representatives - once each from Lyngkyrdem and Nongskhen constituencies.

"If the two constituencies are deleted, it will affect the development of the area," the Union said.

The Delimitation Commission has proposed to combine Lyngkyrdem and Nongskhen constituencies with about 23,000 and 18,000 voters respectively into one - Pynursla constituency.

"It will be an impossible task for a single MLA to look after needs of entire Riwar Mihngi area," the statement said.

Shillong: Newly appointed Governor Banwari Lal Joshi said that Meghalaya is a beautiful and peaceful state with immense potential for development.

In his first message to the people of the State after assuming office here on Friday, Mr Joshi also said that along with vast natural resources, hardworking people and enchanting climate, Meghalaya could become the focus for investments in industry and commerce.

"Though I am familiar with the North East, I now have the opportunity to interact with all sections and communities in this State from a very close quarters" the Governor said.

He, however, said that he is very much eager to contribute to the uplift and development of the State which will be his utmost priority while serving as Governor of this State.

"The State has strong democratic traditions both in its traditional and modern institutions" Mr Joshi said adding that "we need to make utmost use of these democratic traditions for mobilising development acceptable to all sections of the people in the State."

He further called upon the people of the State to help fulfil the task assigned to him as the Governor of this peace loving hill state.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr Vaiphei said that it is important to equip the office with all the latest equipment while lauding District and Session Judge for launching the computer centre as this will allow the staff of office to improve their efficiency. "The launched of the official website (www.districtjudgeshillong.gov.in) will definitely allow the citizens of the State to familiarise themselves with the court proceeding" Mr Vaiphei said.

Dignitaries present on the occasion included Techical Director and State Informatics Officer Mr Timothy Dkhar.

The purpose of the visit was to inspect the various projects taken up by the CPWD North East Zone. The important projects carried by CPWD in the region are Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at 28 various locations of the region, Kendriya Vidalaya at Aizawl and Panisagar, development of entire campus of Mizoram and Assam University, IIM Guwahati, ITPO Guwahati among many others. In addition of the above works, the CPWD is also executing works of many others in North East successfully.

During his visit, Mr Chakrabarthi inspected the border fencing by helicopter, inaugurated the Basabi Vatika and Pariyojana Kendra in CPWD campus and also released a book titled "CPWD in North East Zone".

The CPWD has a target of Rs 207.77 crore for 2006-07 against the allotted budget of Rs 161.4 crore.

Shillong: Forest Minister Martle N Mukhim on Friday said that the implementation of the works related to State zoo was delayed due to fund constraints.

Replying to a question by Mr K Susngi (UDP), Mr Mukhim said that the land measuring 72.74 hectares at Ri Bhoi district was acquired in 2002 and there was delay in the construction as the State could not provide its share of amount as per the requirement of Central Zoo Authority of India.

The final assessment of the cost of the State zoo is Rs 954 lakh where as the State could provide only Rs 500 lakh including the Central assistance.

To another supplementary, Mr Mukhim said that Rs 185.16 lakh were spent for the acquisition of land at Ri Bhoi district.

Adhoc grants

Mass and Elementary Education Minister Zenith Sangma said that the Government is contemplating to increase the ad hoc grants to the aided upper primary and primary school teachers in the State.

He said the proposed enhancement for ad hoc UP schools is from Rs 6000 per month per school to 12,000.

The Chief Minister DD Lapang said that normally the tour programmes of ministers and officers are informed to the concerned departments.

Replying to a supplementary question by Mr Manas Chaudhuri (Ind), Mr Lapang said that it was not necessary that the Ministers after every tour should give a report to the Government regarding their tour or official meeting.

SHILLONG: GAD Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday told the State Assembly that efforts were on to complete the jinxed Crowborough Hotel which has been pending for over two decades. Replying to a question by K Susngi (UDP), Mr Tunsong said that the project would be completed based on Public-Private partnership (PPP) with investment from private parties.

He said the decision to complete the Hotel was taken in January 2006 after receiving recommendations of the High Powered Committee. Answering supplementary questions, Mr Tynsong said that there were two companies, which had initially started the work. After they entered into litigation, the government had to resort to out of court settlement.

He said the amount spent for the out of court settlement is Rs 7.6 crore.Intervening in the matter, the Chief Minister assured that the government would speed up the construction of Crowborough. He also said the court cases filed by two contractors were sorted out in the past. According to him, the committee constituted to look into the early construction of Crowborough would meet soon to finalise the modalities.

Shillong: The Seng Kynthei Lawmali Pyllun (SKLP) has expressed its resentment on the recent statement by CSWO president Irene Hujon regarding the alleged assault by local youths of Lawmali on Christina Suchiang and her daughter on April 5.

In a statement issued here, the SKLP denied that there was any assault or high-handedness on Mrs Suchiang and her family members. It also said that the allegations made by the CSWO president on the mater were baseless.

"We are witness to the fact that no assault as such took place but it was Mrs Suchiang and her family members who started the whole trouble. The CSWO president should have verified the matter properly before making such allegations in the media" the SKLP statement said.

Further, the SKLP asked Mrs Hujon to clarify on her allegations so that the facts regarding the case were not distorted and to ensure that the CSWO was a impartial women's organisation.

SHILLONG: Once considered the academic capital of the East is once again poised to become the launching pad for students whose parents want their children's scholastic pursuits to be well grounded in a rich value system.

In a sincere attempt to offset inherent imbalances and lacunae existent in the educational system, Pune-based Foundation for Liberal and Management Education (FLAME), formed by a pan-Indian think-tank in 2004, has come up with a unique model of liberal education best described as "a journey into the realms of knowledge, social awareness, personal development and individual well-being."

Tactfully blending the philosophy of western liberal education system with the ancient Indian mentor-acolyte concept or "guru shishya parampara," FLAME puts a new spin on a richer academic experience in the context of the modern world by layering it with ancient Indian traditional values of Ahimsa, the Guru Shishya or Mentor ethos, Human Dignity, Ecological Balance and Humility

Inviting students to embark upon and experience this unique yatra or journey, FLAME has developed courses to equip students to meet the demands of contemporary times and to deal with the challenges of the modern world.

The uniqueness of the FLAME model is that it encourages students to use their ingenuity and think out of the box, gives them the freedom to develop their own interdisciplinary specialization through a flexible curriculum and above all, that it offers these courses to students while still at the under-graduate level. Subject offered are diverse and range from physics and economics to marketing and creative writing.

The FLAME School of Liberal Education conducts a 4-year undergraduate programme for students who have passed their 12th class or equivalent in science, arts or commerce at the end of which they are awarded "double qualifications" a BA or BBA and a FLAME Diploma in Liberal Education. The objective of this unique pattern of education is to make students able to set key goals for themselves and develop growth-oriented career plans; while benefiting from the exposure to a vibrant cross-cultural environment. FLAMES's School of Business' Post-Graduate Programmes in Business Administration include an MBA and an MBA in Mass Media, also anchored in Liberal Education, that cover areas in humanities, social sciences, creative arts and sports in addition to management sciences.

Not only the deprived and the oppressed but even the affluent section, including the political leadership, is clamouring for a welfare state along the European lines, where the unemployed are assured of a dole, the aged are assured of social security payments, and the sick are taken care of through medical benefits. Indeed, there is much wailing in India at the lack of progress we have make towards this goal. Nobody seems to notice that the welfare state in Europe itself now stands exposed as a flawed model, which will require major, surgery if at all it is to survive. Assured benefits have not brought about the contentment expected, and have spawned a new form of disillusionment with the whole concept of welfare. The remarkable thing is that the working class itself has now become critical about key aspects of welfare. Social critics are now coming round to the view that Japan, once regarded as a laggard in social security, really has the best answer. Japan's idea is to make the family, not the State, the lynchpin of social security. We in India would do well to look at Europe's failings and Japan's successes instead of blindly following Fabians theories, as we have long been wont to do.

Germany spends almost one-third of its GNP on welfare benefits. Britain spends only a little less. There is record unemployment in Britain (over 3 million) while in Germany it is 1.6 million, the highest since the post-war trauma. In India, welfare is often thought to mean unemployment benefits above all. In fact the biggest welfare item in Europe is pensions for the aged. These swallow up one-tenth of GNP in both Germany and Britain. Even at a time of record unemployment, payments to the unemployed are only a fraction of pensions. And pension payments are gradually assuming such enormous levels that the system is heading for a breakdown.

The situation is by far the most serious in Germany, which has just about the lowest birth rate in the world - 9.8 per thousand, against the world average of 29 per thousand. Meanwhile the aged are living longer than ever, thanks to improved health facilities. Thus in the years to come the working population (which depends on new births) is going to get smaller and smaller while the number of pensioners is getting larger and larger. At present, there are three workers for every pensioner. By the year 2015, there will be just one worker for every pensioner, and later the pensioners will outnumber the workforce by 50 per cent. Social security payments to the aged come out of the salaries of the existing force, either in the form of direct contributions to a fund or through the payment of taxes. At present, workers in Germany have to contribute 9 per cent of their wages towards social security and another 1.5 per cent towards unemployment relief over and above which they pay substantial taxes. As the body of pensioners grows equal to the workforce, no less than two-thirds of the worker's pay-packet will disappear in such payments, and the working class simply will not stand for this. During a recent visit to Germany I was astounded to find college students discussing passionately the burden of social security payments. In my time students would never have dreamed of discussing pensions - they were too busy chasing girls. But in modern Europe love is free while social payments are expensive.

Britain has a much higher birth rate than Germany. Hence the British population is more or less static, while the German one is fast declining. The pension system will not break down in Britain as soon as in Germany, though the fateful day will eventually come. Meanwhile British disenchantment is concentrated on unemployment benefits, which loom large in a country where one worker in eight is without a job. A married unemployed person with two children can get 85 pounds per week in various benefits - the equivalent of Rs. 6,400 per month. And the unemployed pay no tax on these benefits, whereas a working man earning as much has to pay taxes and social security contributions. Thus the British worker now finds that his unemployed neighbour is swilling beer and watching TV at his expense. And the worker is outraged. Indeed, it is more profitable to be unemployed and do some part-time work on the side than have a full-time job. In some European countries, an unemployed person gets up to 85 per cent of his last salary in the form of unemployment benefits, free of taxes and contributions. And he can earn up to 50 per cent of his last salary in part time jobs and dodge tax payments.

Once upon a time, unemployment benefits were much smaller, the beneficiaries were fewer, and the benefits were paid largely through taxes levied on the rich. The worker was perfectly happy with this state of affairs, and the rich man did not protest too much, as he felt he should help those badly off. But with the sharp rise in wages and prosperity in Europe, it is the worker who now contributes the bulk of taxes and social security contributions. And the old solidarity between the worker and the unemployed is now breaking down. In earlier times, the worker saw himself as a beneficiary of the welfare state. Today he sees himself as a milch cow that is being milked for the benefit of lazy shirkers and moonlighters.

There has been a sea-change in social attitude in the welfare state. Once people were ashamed of being unemployed, and tried to hide the fact, even to the extent of not drawing unemployment benefits. Today the unemployed are not merely brazen but aggressive - they spend their time trying to discover extra benefits they are entitled to and in blaming the government for not doing enough for them. Once upon a time a worker would move to the remotest corner of the country to land a job. Today no jobless man in Europe wants to move even if there are jobs elsewhere, and he is entitled to draw benefits regardless. He need not accept jobs offered to him - he can say they are not commensurate with his status. Indeed, much of the unemployment in Europe must now be declared to be voluntary. There is work to be done and plenty of it if only people are willing to move to new areas and take a cut in pay and status. But the welfare state has so spoiled people that they are no longer willing to make adjustments that would be considered commonplace in India. They are increasingly strident about asserting their rights without obligations to perform duties. They must have a job served up on a platter in bright packaging otherwise they would rather remain unemployed and blame the Government for it.

In Europe fifty years ago, unemployment meant destitution. Not any more. The unemployed person today can be better off than the fully employed man. Unemployment is therefore not a problem of the destitute poor. It is in fact a problem of the idle rich. The unemployed have enough money; they merely suffer from sagging morale and idleness. What they need is not more money but occupational therapy. If this is not provided, they will occupy themselves by rioting and staging agitations. These are the diseases bred by the welfare state. Physical deprivation has been replaced by psychological deprivation, and it is doubtful if discontentment is any lower despite the allocation of one-third of GNP for welfare.

One of the casualties of this has been the family system. For centuries, the family was the main form of social security, a tightly knit group where the sick and unemployed would be taken care of by other members of the family.

The welfare system has replaced and destroyed the family in Europe. Young people are not willing to take care of even ailing parents, who are left to the mercies of state institutions and special homes for the aged. It is part of the welfare disease, where the citizen progressively gives up duties and responsibilities while demanding more rights and concessions from the state. The bureaucracy is now supposed to perform functions previously left to families and communities, and of course it cannot do them properly. There is merely a dehumanisation of values, for a bureaucratic dispensation of welfare can never have the human touch of a family relationship. And so we find that parents are alienated from their children, workers from pensioners, and now workers from the unemployed.

And yet the welfare state is now so firmly embedded in the Western polity that it is almost impossible to cut it down to size. President Reagan had made a few moves in this direction and incurred a flood of public wrath. Mr. Margaret Thatcher in Britain did not dare to do more than trim the fringes of welfare, such as taxing unemployment benefits in certain cases, and abolishing benefits related to the last drawn pay. In Germany they have just tightened up the grounds on which an unemployed person can turn down a new job offer. Politicians of all shads know that something is rotten in the state of welfare. But in democracies where political parties compete to offer more and more goodies to the public, even right-wingers blanch at the thought of a serious attack on the welfare system.

By contrast, Japan has never gone in for massive social security. The family system is still alive and active - it has not been destroyed as in Europe and America. It is the family, not the state, which has primary responsibility for the aged and unemployed. Of course there are destitute without family links, and the state provides a safety net for them. But the coverage and expenditure on welfare is limited. And the Japanese pride themselves on the fact that they have not caught what they call "advanced country disease." Their aged do not riot in the streets, they do not have a growing battalion of shirkers finding ways of living at state expense, they are still ashamed when they are unemployed, they retain their concept of duties as well as rights.

In India we show some symptoms of "advanced country disease" even while being as backward as ever. In Kerala, which is the nearest thing we have to a European welfare state, there are already reports of massive fraud in order to get State entitlements. There is the story of the unemployed M. A. who finally got himself declared insane in order to avail of Government benefits for the mentally handicapped. Medical certificates are forged to enable people to draw pensions. Welfarism has only just begun, but already one witnesses the alienation of rights from duties. Let us stand warned by the Western experience. Let us not commit the mistakes of Europe. Let us learn from Japan. INAV

The planetary positions are not quite favourable to the Congress, the astrologers would have us believe. If the recent electoral results are anything to go by, the "aam admi" is disenchanted with the party. Otherwise, why should the Congress lose even the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections? More than the Congress losing its grip, what worries the ruling UPA is the rising influence of the saffron forces, be it in Punjab, Uttarakhand or Delhi.

The grand old party is in depression following continuous poll defeats. Since last year, it has been on a losing trail. The cadres are getting demoralised. What the party badly needs is a morale-boosting victory.

What is in store for the Congress after the crucial U.P Assembly elections? Will the party regain lost ground or will it lose further? What will be its impact on the UPA alliance partners? Is it not time to take a review of the UPA government's performance?

Let us look at the best-case scenario for the Congress. UP Congressmen are hoping for the Gandhi family magic to work wonders in the assembly elections. Fielding Rahul Gandhi is the Congress party's strategy to galvanise the youth. If the campaign clicks, it will certainly bring more seats. Its vote base had eroded from 51 per cent in 1984 to less than half. It is still not known whether the crowds which come to see Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will really take the trouble to go to the polling booth. The Congress leadership knows that the party organisation at the grass root level just does not exist.

What happens if the Congress does well? No one expects the party to become number one party in UP. At the most, the party may improve its seats tally to about 40 or 45. In that event, it would have fewer problems with the alliance partners. It will not only boost the morale of the workers but will also impress the UPA allies who are getting disenchanted with the Congress over the last two years. Both Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh would become stronger. The Congress would be able to face the other State Assembly elections in Goa and Gujarat with greater confidence.

The worst-case scenario will unfold if the party does not retain its present number or win fewer seats. Everyone knows that UP votes on caste lines. The Congress in good old days used to have a vote bank consisting of Scheduled Castes and upper castes besides Muslims. Gradually it lost this vote bank. Today Mayawati's BSP corners all the Dalit votes and the upper castes have moved to the BJP. The Samajwadi Party has the support of Yadavs and Muslims who turned to Mulayam Singh Yadav in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition. The BSP has done some social engineering by fielding Muslims and Brahmins apart from Dalits. So the Congress is now without a solid vote base. Secondly, ticket distribution has left a bad taste in the mouth of many Congressmen as many outsiders have been thrust on the locals who do not want to work for their success. Moreover the Congress had not worked out its arithmetic properly. The splintering of anti-SP and anti-BJP votes may result in a hung assembly.

The left parties, which have a solid 64 MPs in the Lok Sabha, will flex their muscles once the Congress becomes weak. CPI general secretary AB Bardhan has fired the first salvo by attacking the Congress for its wrong policies. Another left leader Abani Roy of the RSP has also joined the chorus. The CPI-M is not far behind. They point out that they supported the Congress only to check the growth of the BJP and its allies. For the last three years, the BJP has been growing steadily on the negative votes while the secular parties are helplessly watching. So the left parties want a course correction. They have serious differences on both the foreign and economic policies of the Congress-led UPA Government. The reforms have already been put on hold, and now more pressure will be mounted on the Indo-US nuclear deal and pro -US stance of the government. Above all, it will be the left and not the Congress which will decide the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Besides, the DMK is putting pressure on the Congress on the backward reservation issue. This can soon become a threat if the Congress does not play along. The DMK has 39 votes which the Congress badly needs. So the Centre will be forced to take on the judiciary on the OBC reservation issue. The other parties also would join hands with the DMK on the sensitive issue.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will watch the Congress embarrassment with glee. It could create trouble for the Maharashtra coalition. NCP chief Sharad Pawar is in touch with most of the smaller parties and is emerging as their leader.

The Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal(RJD) is getting frustrated over the price rise. The RJD can also create trouble although it will not go beyond a limit because it needs the support of the Centre on various cases.

The allies have various issues like OBC reservation, price rise, economic policies and foreign policy to embarrass the Congress. A weak Congress would have to swallow its pride and go along with the allies if it wants the UPA to continue although there is no danger of their pulling out of the government.

Win or lose, what should be the priority of the Congress? At the Government level, the allies have to be kept in good humour. On the organisational side, the Congress needs to put its house in order. For instance, more than a dozen Pradesh Congress Committees are without chiefs. This includes key states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh and in North East. So unless the party is built from the top to bottom, there could be no tangible results. Both the national parties - the Congress and the BJP -- are getting seats on negative votes. What goes for Congress goes for the BJP, too. If the two national parties do not pull up their socks, regional parties will take over even at the Centre sooner than later. (IPA Service)

Sir,

The system of supplying drinking water to the households of Shillong City is not only age-old but also defective, and needs to be changed immediately. The pipes are leaky and rusted and especially in the morning the water that is supplied through these pipes mostly get wasted due to the joints, leaks and rusts in the pipelines which are spread over the roads and get trapped not only by the ongoing vehicles but also by human beings and animals. Also there are chances of the drain and sewerage water mixing freely with pipe water intended for human consumption resulting in ever increasing water-borne diseases like Jaundice, Diarrhoea and many other diseases.

The almost non-existent Shillong Municipal Board never cared to keep the city drains clean, instead the SMB authorities are busy greasing their palms.

Further, most of the Shillong roads are broken and remain unclean for more than months together adding to the risks of the life of the citizens of Shillong.

The extent of contamination is so much that even after boiling this water for 30 minutes or so the water is not fit for human consumption. The famous "Scotland of the East" will soon be "Wasteland of the East". If this sort of negligence happens it is bound to be detrimental for citizens of Shillong. With the "Look East" policy of Govt. of India, Shillong could have played an important role if this city was looked upon with more care and love.

I, would hereby like to appeal to the Meghalaya PWD Ministry and the Shillong Municipal Board to look into the matter and take appropriate remedial measures before an epidemic breaks out in this beautiful city.

Yours etc.,
Bipin Hazarika,
Shillong-4.

Sir,

Apropos the news item "Govt. ignorant of Netaji's role in freedom struggle?" (ST, March 28) it was indeed a surprising news for me as I got to know the ignorance of our government towards Netaji's contribution in our fight for Independence. This is simply not acceptable from our government. If our government shows an ignorant attitude towards our national heroes like Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, then they do not have any right to expect respect from the people of India. 'Netaji' is a household name in the country and a national 'Hero' for every Indian and his contribution in Indian National Congress and his dedication to make 'Indian National Army' cannot go unnoticed. His sacrifice throughout his life to make India free from British rule is known to all.

It is very indeed very unfortunate to receive this type of information from the Deputy Secretary in the Home Ministry, Govt. of India.

Yours etc.
Mala Bisharad,
Shillong-4.

Sir,

It is indeed sad to note that the traffic condition in Tura is quite horrifying. Drivers have little driving sense and etiquette. A visit to the Tura Bazaar will show one that the Auto Rickshaws are freely parked in No Parking Zones. Violations of traffic signals are also rampant, causing several accidents. Also more than two riders can be seen in two wheelers who freely roam about in the city in front of traffic policemen who do not take any action against the violators. Besides, there is no check against drunken driving. Added to these are the woes resulting from poor roads and lack of parking spaces. If such remains the condition today, what would happen after a few years when the traffic volume would increase by ten folds? I hereby request the authorities to please look into the matter.

Yours etc.,
Kalkame A Sangma
Tura

Delivering the verdict in a case related to safe custody of these children, a two-member Division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Amitava Roy and Justice BP Kataky directed the State Government to keep the youngest daughter Anjali (4 years)) of the ULFA couple in the company of her mother who is now in police custody.

The court directed that other two daughters - Pubali (12) and Jan (14) - should be handed over to their maternal uncle Vinod Dangaria who had filed a petition in the court seeking custody of his three minor nieces.

The three minor girls are daughters of fugitive senior ULFA leader Jibon Moran and his wife Madhuri Moran alias Ranjita Chetia. The fate of these minor girls was hanging in balance since the arrest of their mother by police on March 4 last.

They were in the custody of police in Cachar district of southern Asom after their mother had been put behind the bar on charges of waging and abetting terror against the State.

Realising the plight of the children, their maternal uncle Vinod Dangoria from Kakopathar in Tinsukia district of Upper Asom filed a petition before the High Court seeking custody of his nieces. All the three children and their arrested mother were produced before the court here on Friday by Asom police as per an earlier directive issued by the court.