Shillong: The North-Eastern Students’ Organisation (NESO), a conglomerate of eight student bodies from the Northeast, has sought urgent intervention from the central government to find a solution to the protest by the students of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
Extending its support to the protesting students, the organisation has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to take immediate steps to resolve the crisis, which has affected normal functioning in the central varsity for the past five days.
Expressing deep concern over the ongoing crisis at the university, NESO stated, “There is a total breakdown of administration due to the ongoing indefinite hunger strike launched by the students’ community of this University under the banner of the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the KSU NEHU Unit.”
The student’s body claimed that the current Vice-Chancellor (VC) of NEHU, Prabha Shankar Shukla, has shown indifference to the concerns and appeals of the students, teachers, and non-teaching staff since assuming office.
“The VC is least concern in addressing the issues plaguing the University,” it stated.
Notably, the students of the university have been on an indefinite hunger strike in front of the VC’s office since November 5, demanding his removal and that of other officials.
“The situation has led to disruptions in academic activities. The health of the fasting students is also deteriorating day by day raising concern in the state regarding their well-being in the near future,” the organisation said.
It further stated, “Despite repeated efforts by the two students’ unions to bring forward the concerns of the student body through memorandums and Charters of Demands, the Vice-Chancellor has consistently failed to address the pressing issues affecting the university. His dismissive attitude and failure to take proactive steps to resolve these concerns has created an atmosphere of dissatisfaction and distrust among the students.”
The NEHU Students’ Union has demanded the immediate dismissal of VC Prof. P. S. Shukla, Registrar Col. Omkar Singh, Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta, and other incompetent staff members who have allegedly contributed to the university’s decline.
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Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday also urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to find a solution to the ongoing protest.
Earlier, the NEHU faculty members also met Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar, who is the chief rector of the university, demanding his attention and immediate intervention to end the imbroglio.
