Tura: The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Tura campus has joined their counterparts in Shillong in a strong protest demanding the removal of the Vice Chancellor (VC) and Registrar. Students are also calling for the appointment of a Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC) for the Tura campus, and the re-establishment of the Post Graduate Students’ Union (PGSU).
The protest, which began today, has garnered support from the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and the Garo Students’ Movement Committee (GSMC), with other civil society organizations expected to join the movement. The university gates have been closed by the agitating students, who have vowed not to back down until their demands are met.
In Shillong, the protest is being led by the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), whose demands have been echoed by the Tura campus, with additional issues specific to the Tura campus.
“We fully support the demands of our counterparts in Shillong and call for the removal of the VC and Registrar, both of whom were illegally appointed. These illegal appointees must be removed immediately,” said Amsrang Momin, a PhD student at the Tura campus. “We also demand that a PVC be appointed for the Tura campus, which has been functioning without one for over two years now,” Momin added.
Currently, the Tura campus is managed by a temporary “campus in-charge,” a solution that has turned into a long-term arrangement under the current administration.
“Additionally, we demand that the vacant positions, arising for various reasons, be filled. Our campus is plagued by issues such as inadequate buses, lack of facilities, and drinking water shortages. Moreover, the PGSU, which used to be the students’ body to raise issues, was disbanded over two years ago, and it needs to be reinstated,” Momin continued.
Chokram Sangma, a second-year MA student in English, expressed concern about the declining standards of NEHU under the current VC. “Before his appointment, NEHU was ranked 95th among universities in the country. Since his tenure began, the university has dropped to a dismal 175th place. The VC’s actions are damaging the future of students in the state, and he needs to step down,” said Sangma.
Arlan Namsan, an MBA first-year student, also voiced strong support for the protest, emphasizing the unity among the students in their demands.
Banteilang Khrabani, a second-year student in the English department, was particularly critical of the Registrar, citing an instance where the Registrar misspelled “verified” as “ferified” in an official communication. “This is highly unprofessional. The Registrar and VC must be removed immediately. The absence of a functioning students’ body has caused ongoing issues, especially for our Garo students, and we fully support the call to reinstate the PGSU,” said Khrabani.
Tengsak Momin, President of the GSU-Central Executive Committee (CEC), joined the protest in solidarity, highlighting concerns over the management of student funds. “We are aware that Rs 12 lakh is allocated each year for the Tura campus students’ body, and we want to know how this money has been spent. According to the Lyngdoh Commission, having a Students’ Union is a fundamental right, and that right must be restored for Tura campus students. We fully support this demand and will use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to investigate where this money is going,” said Momin.
The Tura campus protests show no sign of abating, as students remain determined to continue their fight for greater representation, accountability, and improvements at the university.
Also Read | Renowned Scientist Sheds Light on ISRO’s Space Physics Achievements