The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) comprising of the NEHU Teachers Association, NEHU non-teaching staff association and NEHU students’ union today decided to suspend its indefinite strike.
“From tomorrow all classes will go on normally. The office will also perform normal duties,” JAC chairman Lakhon Kma told those gathered outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office after the group emerged from their meeting with the VC, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla.
The strike had begun on Monday.
This decision was taken after the Vice-Chancellor gave an assurance to the JAC that he will terminate the appointment of technical advisor Rohit Prasad, the chief demand of the JAC.
The JAC has been claiming that Prasad’s appointment broke NEHU rules.
Kma said that a final decision whether to call off the agitation entirely will be taken at the next JAC meeting.
On the JAC’s demand for appointment of statutory officers, Shukla informed the delegation that the process will be completed between November 20 and 22.
On the deteriorating condition of the university health centre, the VC apprised the delegation that all necessary steps have been taken to procure the medicines through the normal mode and appointment of the technicians in the centre will also be initiated immediately and, if necessary, on contractual basis.
On the issue of relieving teaching and technical staff from ministerial duties since academics should be the priority, Kma said that the Vice-Chancellor agreed. “If anybody feels that it is hampering your job of teaching by being here you can very humbly write to the Vice-Chancellor and you will be relieved,” Kma told the gathering.
On holding of regular convocations, Shukla said that he is waiting for the approval of the President of India, who is the Visitor of NEHU, and a response is awaited from her office.
Kma said that inviting the President makes sense since this is the 50th year of foundation of NEHU but delays should not hamper convocations every year.
He also said that a committee has been constituted for the marking system and a chairman will be appointed and the committee’s report will be put before the Academic Council.
On the inclusion of Elected Members of NEHUSU as representative in the Academic Council, Kma said that this will require tweaking of the university’s ordinance. So far the student community’s representation in the Academic Council is of two members who are chosen on merit.
“This he in principle has agreed that there will be representation from elected officer bearers of NEHUSU. Instead of going by merit of a student who does not know what issue the NEHUSU is taking up, the union’s representation will be there,” Kma said.
On the demand to review the Educationally Backward Area Quota from Block Level to Village Level, the JAC chairman said that a committee has been formed who will look into this matter and come up with suggestions and put it before the Academic Council.
