Editor, Apropos of the letter penned by a parent (April 29, 2026) crying foul about the deteriorating quality of services offered by STEMS, I, as a regular beneficiary of the bus service for my daughter studying in KV EAC, Upper Shillong, would like to offer my perspective on the allegations levelled.
Since day one of using the services, I have had a feeling of security and peace about my daughter's travel to and from school under the guidance of an able and responsible driver and caretaker. Regarding the parent's complaints about redundancy of the App, I believe that in the face of direct communication over the WhatsApp group, dependency on the App is reduced, and this only makes things easier for those parents who are not tech savvy.
Parents have been given the choice to make direct payments through scanners, and in this digital age, such a move should be welcomed, not criticised.
The letter writer's concerns about security due to sharing of live location on the WhatsApp group seem overstated. Personally, I am quite relieved over the fact that I know my daughter's location on a real-time basis and can make alternative arrangements in case of any issue that may arise out of the unpredictable traffic situation in Shillong.
With regards to pick-up and drop-off points, I trust that the STEMS team is better positioned to assess logistical challenges such as road congestion and space constraints. Their decisions in this regard seem both practical and necessary.
On the allegations of drivers and caretakers smoking and drinking, I think that is absolutely slanderous. The drivers and caretakers are nice, well-behaved, and responsible people trying to earn a decent living. No one has the right to come up with such accusations, unless supported by evidence. Personally, the drivers and caretakers assigned to the buses in my locality are very well-behaved, and I and other parents have found no issues with them since the inception of the services.
Finally, I would also like to state that STEMS customer service has been absolutely wonderful. We started with one bus in our locality; we have moved up to two, and I have personally put in a request for a third bus in our locality due to the overwhelming positive response from parents/students.
The parent's attempt to vilify STEMS seems like a desperate attempt to throw a wrench in the works, without rhyme or reason.
I fully stand by the STEMS services and, through this newspaper, would like to offer my deep gratitude to the entire STEMS team for the wonderful service they are providing.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email
Addressing the Youth Drug Crisis in Meghalaya
Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to draw urgent public and governmental attention to the escalating drug epidemic in Meghalaya-a crisis that now threatens the very fabric of our state's future.
As of March 2026, official data paints a staggering picture: approximately 3 lakh (300,000) individuals in our state are now identified as drug users. This represents nearly 10% of our total population, a figure that should serve as a clarion call for every citizen. The demographics of this crisis are particularly troubling. Over 91% of users are male, many of whom belong to the economically marginalized unorganized sector. With high job insecurity and a lack of social safety nets, these individuals are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the cycle of addiction.
Perhaps most heartbreaking is the plummeting age of first-use. Recent studies from late 2025 indicate that children as young as 10 years old are being exposed to illicit substances. Furthermore, over half of tobacco users in the state begin before age 17-drastically lower than the national average of 23.6%. When addiction takes root in childhood, the impact on education, public health, and family stability is catastrophic.
While the government's launch of the State-wide Drug Use Survey in December 2025 is a commendable step toward scientific intervention, data collection alone is not a cure. We require a multi-fronted assault on this crisis:
● Aggressive Education: Schools must move beyond "just say no" and implement evidence-based awareness programs that address the psychological roots of peer pressure and stress.
● Economic Reform: Reducing unemployment and providing vocational support to those in the unorganized sector is essential to removing the "despair factor" that leads to substance abuse.
● Robust Infrastructure: We must move beyond temporary de-addiction and invest in long-term, accessible mental health services and professional rehabilitation centers.
● Strict Enforcement: Law enforcement must dismantle the supply chains that make these substances so easily available in both our urban hubs and rural villages.
The youth of Meghalaya are not just statistics; they are the architects of our tomorrow. We cannot afford to lose a generation to the "easy availability" of drugs and the "lack of opportunity." It is time for a collective, society-wide stand to secure a healthier, drug-free future for our state.
Yours etc.,
Lucymery S. Myrthong
Shillong
Addressing the Escalating Crisis of Traffic Congestion in Shillong
Editor,
I am writing to express my grave concern regarding the increasingly debilitating state of traffic congestion in Shillong. Once celebrated for its serene charm, our city is now grappling with a systemic gridlock that has transitioned from a periodic inconvenience to a chronic daily crisis, severely impacting the productivity and mental well-being of its residents.
The current paralysis appears to stem from three primary structural failures:
Inefficient Traffic Management: There is a critical need to modernize our approach to vehicle flow. Reliance on manual coordination often lacks the precision required for high-volume junctions. Without synchronized signaling systems and data-driven peak-hour management, severe bottlenecks have become inevitable.
Infrastructure and Parking Deficits: The disparity between the rising number of private vehicles and available parking is stark. In the absence of dedicated parking hubs, arterial roads are frequently repurposed as makeshift lots. This effectively narrows our already limited road width, particularly in commercial districts, paralyzing movement.
Lax Enforcement of Regulations: A lack of consistent, stringent enforcement has fostered a culture of non-compliance. Erratic roadside stoppages and unauthorized U-turns further exacerbate the fragility of our transit network.
To mitigate this crisis, the concerned authorities must transition from reactive measures to proactive urban planning. I propose the following interventions:
Digital Integration: Implementation of "Smart Traffic" solutions, including automated signals and real-time surveillance to optimize flow and penalize violators.
Strategic Infrastructure: Immediate commissioning of multi-level parking facilities at key entry points and commercial hubs to reclaim road space for active transit.
Alternative Transit Promotion: Strengthening the public transport network and incentivizing car pooling initiatives to reduce the sheer volume of single-occupancy vehicles.
Shillong's status as a premier destination and a livable city is at risk. It is imperative that the Shillong Traffic Police and the Urban Affairs Department collaborate on a comprehensive long-term roadmap to restore order to our streets. We cannot afford to let our city's progress be stalled by its own traffic.
Yours etc.,
Ebenezer Banmanbha
Malngiang
Shillong