Tura: Social activist Cherian Momin has strongly condemned the North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) for allegedly obstructing development initiatives at the NEHU Tura Campus, calling their actions “a total disgrace” and “sabotage against the future of Garo Hills.”
In a statement issued over the weekend, Momin accused NEHUTA of deliberately blocking progress through “unsubstantiated allegations” and “procedural obstructions,” which he said are depriving tribal students of Garo Hills of much-needed facilities.
“What is happening right now with the NEHU Tura Campus is a complete disaster,” Momin said. “Instead of helping the young people of Garo Hills, instead of building a strong, beautiful campus, NEHUTA is standing in the way, blocking, obstructing, and hurting the future of thousands of students.”
Momin highlighted that NEHU was established under the 1973 NEHU Act to serve the entire Northeast, not just Shillong, and the Tura Campus was specifically envisioned to provide higher education opportunities for the tribal youth of Garo Hills. However, he alleged that decades of neglect and delay have left the campus underdeveloped.
According to Momin, recent funding of ₹45 crore from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs—part of a larger ₹94 crore plan, was released to build hostels, classrooms, and laboratories at Tura Campus. He alleged that NEHUTA derailed the initiative by spreading “false claims of a ₹94 crore scam” without evidence.
“They shouted about a so-called scam with no documents, no proof. And when the then Director of Tura Campus clarified the truth, they went silent. But the damage was done—they planted doubt and tried to stop development,” he said.
The activist also accused NEHUTA of obstructing Executive Council (EC) meetings, which he described as the highest decision-making body under the NEHU Act. “By stopping the EC, NEHUTA is stopping NEHU itself. This is not just obstruction—this is sabotage,” Momin charged.
He further denounced NEHUTA’s move to declare Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. S. Shukla “persona non grata,” calling it “pure arrogance” without any legal or academic basis.
“For more than thirty years, Tura Campus has been treated like a second-class citizen. Now, when funds are finally available, NEHUTA wants to play political games. This is betrayal of tribal youth,” Momin said, urging the Vice-Chancellor to convene the EC meeting in Tura if Shillong remains a hurdle.
Momin appealed to the Government of India, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the University Grants Commission to intervene and ensure that the ₹45 crore is utilized for infrastructure development in Tura.
“I stand with the people of Garo Hills and the students who want growth, not politics. NEHUTA must stop blocking progress. NEHU Tura Campus will rise—it must rise—and nothing will stop it,” he asserted.
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