Editor,
Let me begin by quoting the words of our so-called ‘beloved’ (for some) Nongstoin MLA Macmillan Byrsat who once said, “We hear the younger generation speak English every time but when you ask them to draft a letter, they cannot. But what to do? They ask for a job and I give it to them.”
That’s what happens when an MLA plays God (rather his followers who play God), make calls to heads of departments subtly making demands to employ their people (briew MLA). During the election campaigns, he promised that one person from each household would have a government job. Would that be by use of power? When you look at it now, I think he meant, all members of his family will have a government job. Be it his family members or relatives, he tends to work more only towards his own and not really for the people. But aren’t we all his own? Are we animals of some sort?
People say he has made changes to Nongstoin. Okay, yes he has but only a year before the elections!! What did he do during the Covid pandemic? Go running to his ‘father’ complaining about authorities he didn’t get along with, to get his way. Using power while he can for as long as he can? He might have helped maybe but at a later time. I think the MDC helped more. Even local groups contributed more to relief works during the pandemic.
The heart put in understanding the people is lost in power. He’s probably consumed with worries maybe or consumed with his next plot, who knows? But for sure he does not understand what it means to be human. Maybe he does but his goons definitely don’t. Hence the result, you have unqualified people, people who can’t draft a letter, people who can’t articulate a question being asked, people who can’t operate an office system, people who can’t even speak proper English working on government systems, people who don’t have a heart to help.
What’s the point of being appointed to a particular post and not helping others? Do they have the ears to listen, I mean, intently listen and not just say, oh, so sorry. We have people without having to appear for any interview, and have an offer letter delivered. Posts are advertised publicly, yes, but the hard work in putting out advertisements is all but a joke, making the interview process a joke, making the time and money spent on the people involved in the process and the new graduates who for some have to travel hours to get to the interview location and the money spent, all a joke.
Some actually work hard to graduate, some actually need the job to support their family, some struggle financially to get the education they deserve and it all goes down the drain with just one call from the MLA. Where is the system that needs to be followed? Why do we even have the DSC or MPSC to host exams when actual protocols are not being followed? The heads of departments have no choice either but to comply, else they will be put in a bind like they are some clowns.
Talking about departments let me go back to the fact where the MLA’s followers act like gods. I would preferably call them goons. They’re the heads of departments. I pity the heads of departments. With all the intellect, with years of education, with years of training, but their positions stand at nothing infront of the MLA and his goons. Their position is belittled. The goons speak on his behalf when a concern is brought to him as well. Are you serious Mr MLA? Don’t you have a mouth or your own or your own thought process to take in what‘s brought infront of you. I really feel bad for them. But again the MLA is the same or has adapted certain behaviours from his goons too.
Is it a trend for politicians to walk into a room of an officer while the officer still has important work to discuss with visitors? The MLA walks into the officer’s room and behaves like he is god. Did God come down to earth for a short time or did I miss something? It’s just human courtesy, it’s basic manners. Knock perhaps. You were once a lawyer, so all of your education is a waste now that you are the ‘MLA’.
They say the MLA is a good hearted person. But if he was a good person, I don’t think he would dare ask if a person voted for him in order to help. Is he too thick skinned not to feel embarrassed asking the question? How childish can somebody be? If he was really a good person, I think the unfair doings would definitely creep into his conscience. But I stand by saying that he is a cold hearted person. I wonder how he sleeps at night.
Going back to the goons, like children, they fight among themselves over the fact that bills for projects were being released to non-supporters. Is this some kind of a game? Fighting like beggars scrambling for food but in this case all for the money, public money to pocket themselves. Shameless. So it’s just their team that gets paid for a job? And to get the job, you have to pay a certain amount, just so that one of the goons gets you the job. My opinion means nothing but I know for sure there are plenty who feel the same but of course, in a society like ours, we don’t want trouble (hap shu shah), our Khasi mentality (lehrain briew). We the public do not know what goes on behind closed doors but God sure does.