Readers have raised four distinct concerns in letters sent to the paper: a correction to a recent profile, a warning about the language used in the Meghalaya Assembly debate on job reservation, procedural flaws in a state recruitment exam, and a pressing healthcare vacancy at the Dawki Primary Health Centre. Each writer asks for attention from the newspaper, legislators, examination authorities and the state health department respectively.
Minakashi Chhetry Panikar, writing as the mother of the boy profiled, thanked the paper for a sensitive feature published on February 28, 2026 titled “The Inspiring Journey of Sourya, a Boy originally from Tura,” but asked for a factual correction. She said her son’s name is “Mourya,” not “Sourya,” and described the error as a typographical oversight that matters because a name carries a child’s identity. She requested readers and the paper to read “Mourya” in place of the printed name and reiterated her gratitude to the author.
Marbiang L Rymbai raised concerns about terminology used during the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly debate on the State’s job reservation policy. The writer says MLA Ardent M. Basaiawmoit repeatedly used “Khasi” when referring to the 40 percent reservation category instead of the officially recognised composite term “Khasi–Jaintia.” According to the letter, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar raised a Point of Order and the Speaker ruled that “Khasi–Jaintia” is the correct term. Rymbai argued the choice to use “Khasi” risks erasing distinct identities, cautioned against conflating “unify” with “unite,” and urged the VPP leadership to promote inclusive unity that recognises Khasi, Jaintia and Garo equally.
A writer who withheld their name criticised the recent Meghalaya Education Recruitment Board (MERB) examination for procedural lapses. The letter says the MCQ exam required answers on plain paper rather than OMR sheets, lacked guidance on overwriting, involved distribution of unsealed question papers, and used publicly available application codes as identifiers-compromising candidate anonymity during manual evaluation. The writer also noted that exam schedules and centre allocations were uploaded only the evening before the test, creating confusion for candidates who pay fees comparable to state MPSC tests.
Chanmiki Lamin called attention to a healthcare emergency at Dawki, reporting that the Dawki PHC has been without a medical officer for more than two weeks following a transfer and that no replacement has been posted. Lamin described the impact on remote border villages-especially expectant mothers, the elderly and accident victims-who now must travel to Amlarem, Jowai or Shillong for care at significant cost and delay. The writer urged the Health Department to prioritise immediate deputation of a medical officer to the PHC to avert avoidable harm.
Each letter asks for corrective action or official response; the writers submitted their concerns via email and requested public attention to these matters.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/03/02/a-correction-please-2/
Category: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Publish Date: 2026-03-02 03:48:00
