Shillong: The North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) has decided to temporarily suspend its ongoing recruitment process following protests led by local social organisations demanding a more gender-balanced workforce.
The decision was announced after a meeting chaired by government spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh, which included NEIGRIHMS officials and members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU).
The KSU has been staging protests within the NEIGRIHMS campus, calling for several changes — notably, the implementation of an 80:20 female-to-male employment ratio, a review of the roster registry, and the establishment of exam centres across Meghalaya.
“In light of the ongoing protests and pending concerns, it has been decided to put the recruitment process on hold until these matters are resolved,” Lyngdoh stated, expressing hope that solutions will be reached within a week.
He also mentioned that a state government delegation will urgently seek a meeting with the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, as several of the issues raised fall outside NEIGRIHMS’ administrative jurisdiction.
“NEIGRIHMS is governed by a council chaired by the Union Health Minister. We have resolved to escalate these concerns to the council, and any resolutions passed will be forwarded to the ministry for further action,” Lyngdoh added.
Founded in 1987, NEIGRIHMS is the first postgraduate medical institution in the Northeastern region.
