Letters to the Editor

Appointment of Stenographers in Judicial services

I could not resist myself to write a few lines on the issue. Around two years back, 170 posts of stenographers were advertised to be posted for judicial services (like CJM, SDJM and in Munsif's courts) in Assam. Written tests were conducted for the same. Against 170 posts only 90 candidates from Assam got qualified for the viva-voice test. All the selected were filly selected for appointment. Then 80 posts remained vacant. Taking advantage of the situation, some vested interests had appointed 35 stenographers hailing from Bihar and UP. It is given to understand that 35 stenographers are not of better caliber. Of course, they can be rated as very low. The other most disadvantageous point is that they don't know Assamese for day-to-day functioning.

Now, my poser is: Why the existing institutes in the state could not produce efficient stenographers? Stenography is not a rocket science. This is obviously a part of skilled manpower development scheme. The State Government must see that no state government job is allowed to be stched away from our local boys in future on the pretext of our lackadaisical attitude.

Prafulla Dowarah,

Guwahati.

Travelling mece

I crave your indulgence to allow me to ventilate a public grievance suffered in silence by the commuters across Assam in general and in the gaon-Chaparmukh section in particular and elsewhere in gaon district. Train passengers intending to travel to and from gaon are akin to packed sardines in the mini buses (Magic vans) plying on that route. The rows of seats in the middle facing each other can hardly accommodate three persons. But the drivers and handymen force four passengers to sit there. Any objection and protest against it, is just to invite rude replies from them. The passengers are taunted to arrange for their own vehicles or travel by private cars. The capacity of those vehicles is known well to the Motor Vehicle Inspectors and the District Transport Officer of the district. But the officials seem to ignore the malpractice of flouting all transport norms, causing risk to public life and property.

But the picture is completely different in Sonitpur district, which met my eyes recently on my return from Balipara junction to Tezpur in the first week of November. The mini buses do not allow four passengers to sit on a single seat. I, therefore, would like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to this public nuisance and mece and urge prompt and appropriate action in larger interest of the hoi polloi.

I also appeal to the local MLA who had promised to initiate some changes in the euphoria and flush of election victory in gaon town at the Joyshri square (Marwari Patty) and Civil Hospital Gate, but things are back to square one as his zeal and spirit seem to have taken a back seat, of late, for reasons best known to him.

Debajani Devi,

ADP Road, gaon.