Tura: Cherian Momin, a well-respected social activist representing students and civil society in Tura, has penned an urgent letter to the President of India, who serves as the Visitor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
The letter brought to light the dire administrative challenges plaguing NEHU, highlighting concerns from the Tura campus and underscoring the need for immediate reforms.
On Wednesday, students of the Tura campus joined in with the larger group of NEHU varsity agitation seeking the ouster of the current VC, the sacking of the registrar as well as other demands that the students have brought about.
Students of the NEHU – Tura campus, joined in by the GSU and the GSMC, promised to continue their protest till their demands have been met by the authorities.
The gates to the campus remained shut with students sitting in front to express their solidarity with those protesting in Shillong as well as seeking their demands for the improvement of the campus in Tura is also met.
“We support the demands of our counterparts in Shillong and seek the removal of the VC and registrar who has been illegally appointed. These illegal appointees have to be shown the door. Further we also demand that a PVC be appointed to the Tura campus as we have been doing without one for over 2 years now,” said PhD student, Amsrang Momin.
In his appeal, Momin expressed a “profound sense of urgency and a heavy heart,” underscoring that the grievances of students, educators, and staff have long been overlooked by university authorities. “The current leadership has grown out of touch with the region’s needs,” Momin wrote, adding that Vice Chancellor Professor Prabha Shankar Shukla, along with Registrar Colonel (retired) Omkar Singh and Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta, have failed to address longstanding issues.
The university, established to be a center of academic excellence representing Northeast India’s rich socio-cultural tapestry, now faces significant unrest. Students, faculty, and non-teaching staff have raised repeated concerns over NEHU’s governance, sparking a series of protests.
The campus is currently being run by a campus in-charge, which apparently was a temporary solution but this has become a permanent fixture in NEHU – Tura.
“We also demand that vacancies be filled up that have arisen due to various reasons. There are problems galore in our campus including lack of buses, facilities within the campus, drinking water issues among many others. Our demand is that the PGSU, which was our students’ body for raising issues, has been disbanded for over 2 years now and this needs to be reformed,” added Amsrang.
Chokram Sangma, a 2nd year student of MA in the English department raised the failing standards of NEHU since the VC took over.
“Just prior to his appointment, NEHU ranked 95 in the country in the list of Universities. Since he has taken over we have fared deplorably and now rank a lowly 175. The VC needs to step down as his actions are harming the future of the student community in the state,” felt Chokram.
Momin pointed to recent agitations, hunger strikes, and a campus-wide lockdown organized by the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit as evidence of mounting frustration.
The absence of a Pro-Vice Chancellor for NEHU’s Tura campus has been a major point of contention. Momin recalled the days when the campus, led by figures like Professor Milton Sangma, thrived and reflected the aspirations of the Garo community. Now, with only a Campus Director in place, he argued, “there is no figure vested with the authority to make impactful decisions or swiftly address administrative concerns,” leading to stagnation and disillusionment among students and staff.
The plight of NEHU’s non-teaching staff further amplifies the university’s troubles. According to Momin, the NEHU Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) has long called attention to “inadequate staffing, delayed recruitment, and lack of fair remuneration.” Despite appeals, the administration has failed to act, violating the principle of “Equal Pay for Equal Work,” as upheld by the Supreme Court. Momin described the exploitation of contractual and daily-wage workers as an issue of “basic human decency.”
Adding to the distress, Momin highlighted the deteriorating infrastructure and rising fees. Students face escalating hostel costs and subpar living conditions, including limited access to clean drinking water, poor WiFi, and inadequate healthcare. Such conditions have placed an undue burden on students, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. “A university is meant to be a sanctuary of knowledge and growth, but at NEHU, students find themselves grappling with conditions that diminish their dignity and hinder their educational pursuits,” Momin wrote.
The letter stresses that NEHU’s challenges extend beyond a local issue, presenting a crisis of national importance. Momin emphasized that NEHU’s mandate as a central university is to serve the people of the Northeast—a region marked by its unique challenges and potential. Yet, he notes, NEHU’s administration has failed to uphold this mandate, causing a decline in academic standards and reputation. “The university’s slipping ranking is not just a number; it is a stark indicator of the administration’s failure,” Momin asserted.
The social activist urged the President to take decisive action, including the removal of the current Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and Deputy Registrar, and to appoint a full-fledged Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Tura campus. Such steps, he believes, would restore accountability and ensure that the campus’s unique needs are met. He framed the appointment of a Pro-Vice Chancellor as more than an administrative necessity; it would be “a profound statement of support for the diverse cultures and communities that NEHU represents.”
Momin also called for adherence to fair compensation for non-teaching staff and expedited recruitment for vacant positions. Without these measures, he argues, NEHU cannot foster an environment of mutual respect and academic integrity.
Also Read: What lessons can we learn from Guwahati’s Dighalipukhuri movement?
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