The People’s Democratic Front (PDF), an ally of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance has said that North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in the last few years has witnessed an unprecedented downward spiral that have affected the administration of the university, the working environment and most importantly the academic future of students.
At a press conference today, the PDF said non-filling up of vacancies in teaching and non-teaching posts is one of the most critical issues of the university which has affected the students and the university as a whole.
“The appointment of guest lecturers instead of permanent teaching staff in various departments has resulted in the lack of accommodation of research scholars which is so important for pushing the students forward to excel in the field of research and development as well as boosting the higher education of the State and the north-eastern region in general. The vacant posts in various departments of the administration in general have been a major stumbling block for the university to excel and prosper as one of the premiere central universities of the country,” PDF general secretary Auspicious L. Mawphlang said in the memorandum to NEHU vice chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla.
PDF also mentioned about lack of fund allocation to academic activities. It cited the latest NIRF report showing that non-salary funds were allocated more to university infrastructure than academic activities.
The party also said that as per the latest NIRF rankings, NEHU has witnessed a decline in status and prestige among the central universities in the country. “This is is quite appalling and shocking since the university was established with a goal to educate, motivate and uplift the people of the State and the north-eastern region in general. The lack of efficiency, vision and dynamic leadership in the past years have resulted in the regressive ranking of the university and affected the higher education in the State,” it added.
In the memorandum, the PDF demanded increase of seats in Physical Science and Life Science, setting up of job-oriented courses in fisheries, geo-informatics, forestry, animal husbandry, food processing, rural development and others to enhance and uplift the socio-economic aspect of Meghalaya and the north-eastern region in general.
PDF also said that there is a need to reduce the fee structure of the different professional courses offered by the School of Technology in the university so as to provide equal opportunity to the various aspirants.
It also demanded timely declaration of examination results, setting up of CSIR-NET examination centre at NEHU campus and installation of proper and quality sports infrastructure in the university so that it could excel in various inter-university competitions.
