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| A child at work instead of being in school. Picture by UB Photos |
Free and compulsory education for all children till the age of 14 has been listed in the Directive Principles of state policy.
However, poverty and ignorance have driven the less privileged to abandon their education midway to fend for themselves. The problem of child labour refuses to go away.
But a few organisations, which are now running special schools especially for such underprivileged children, are giving them an opportunity to educate themselves, allowing them to earn at the same time.
It is also encouraging to know that some regular schools in the region, especially in Assam and Meghalaya, provide education free of cost to such children.
Such efforts need to be executed in a bigger and larger manner to eradicate illiteracy and poverty from society.
I am sure that if these children are given a chance to go to school, they will definitely do well in life.
Although a utopian idea, if implemented, we will not see any unfortunate child on the street digging into garbage bins for leftovers.
D.P. Kanwar,
Shillong
The variety and richness of the cultural heritage of the Northeast have been widely deliberated upon in seminars and written about in journals and books, with the majority stressing on the oft-repeated slogan ? unity in diversity.
This seemed to hold true for decades, evolving with exchanges and assimilation, into a natural bond cementing diverse ethnic groups.
This silent movement has fostered mutual respect among cultures, which have managed to retain their distinct identities in spite of their often overlapping margins. These changes, seen rather as beneficial innovations, did not trigger murmurs of ?silent invasion? or ?cultural colonisation?.
As the region fell on hard times, cultural exchange took a backseat, giving free rein to divisive and subversive forces which shook the age-old inter-cultural bonds to their foundation. This was the time when ethnic unrest erupted as mutual co-operation steadily declined.
However, a more far-sighted section of leaders realised that cultural chauvinism would be of no help in a region teeming with diversity. What was required for the region to progress and tide over the crises rising before it was cohesion, rooted in its cultural richness.
This, in a way, led to a ?renaissance? among the cultural torchbearers, to guide the people away from ethnic unrest and secessionist struggle.
Several socio-political and socio-economic parameters are responsible for the growth (or otherwise) of diverse ethnic cultural streams and their inter-relations.
The economically backward rural population has kept the flame of cultural distinctiveness alive, making it a way of life.
Shyamaprasad Sharma,
Guwahati
A new government will soon take over the reins of power in Dispur. Whichever party wins, it should remember that it will have to deal with several crucial issues if it is to solve the problems of the people.
The basic needs of the people comprise water, electricity, road transport and other forms of communication. Though road construction has improved, some lifelines in Guwahati are still in a very poor condition. This factor should be taken into account.
Since there is heavy traffic on some roads, bypasses need to be developed to mitigate the burden on arterial routes.
For instance, a connector from Chandmari through the Treasury Office, which reaches Nabagraha and Silpukhuri, is in a sorry state. I do not understand why PWD engineers have not repaired this road for such a long time.
Water scarcity is another headache for Guwahatians. Even 59 years after Independence, every political party that forms the government is unable to provide water. East Guwahati constituency is the most neglected one in the city. Voters there, not surprisingly, do not wish to exercise their franchise.
Again, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) wards 38 and 40 have been without councillors for the past three years, as elections could not be held. What are the reasons for this?
Powercuts are a perennial problem, particularly in summer. The voltage is always low. These months are often unbearable owing to frequent powercuts.
Many areas of the city lack modes of public transportation like buses and trekkers.
Could the elected representatives of East Guwahati, West Guwahati and Dispur, who will assume power within a few weeks, please sit down together and make plans so that water scarcity, power shortage and all such civic problems become a thing of the past?
J.N. Bhattacharya,
Guwahati
The Gauhati University administration has failed to schedule the degree examinations on time this year, thereby jeopardising the future of many students. Degree examinations are usually conducted in February, which enables the university to declare results around the time when universities elsewhere in the country also publish theirs.
This year, most of the students planning to go outside the state to pursue higher studies will not be able to do so, owing to the delay in examinations. Thanks to the university administration, students will now face immense problems in obtaining admission to other institutions.
Supriya Islam,
Guwahati
Guwahati is located in a highly vulnerable seismic zone. Yet, a greedy, unprincipled and unscrupulous coterie of builders, engineers, bureaucrats, politicians and architects is busy flouting existing rules and regulations, and constructing highrises on a massive scale.
They claim that such constructions aid progress and development. The outcome is that highrises are mushrooming in every nook and cranny of Guwahati. But this holds unimaginable risks for the city if an earthquake of moderate or high intensity hits Guwahati.
Why are the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and other agencies silent on the issue? The GMDA is primarily concerned with providing clearance to all kinds of construction in the city. It is hardly surprising that this silence is considered ominous.
Residents of the city should band together and come forward to stop construction of highrises, particularly those which violate various rules and regulations. The government, after all, is doing nothing in this sphere.
Priyanka Sinha,
Guwahati
Letters on reports appearing in The Telegraph Northeast may be sent to: The Telegraph Northeast Godrej Building, Ulubari,Guwahati - 781 007.
