The Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) in a statement today has expressed solidarity with the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU).
JNUSU said that the health of hunger-striking students is deteriorating, with many hospitalised.
“However, the administration remains unresponsive to NEHUSU’s demands, which include, basic infrastructure, journals, hostels, internship cells, 24/7 library access, lab maintenance, remote access to e-resources, enhanced student exchange programmes, and many other basic facilities,” JNUSU said.
It also alleged that the NEHU administration has ignored student union demands since the beginning.
Stating that vice chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla, nearing the end of his third year, has failed to appoint a pro vice chancellor for the other two campuses, violating university ordinances, the JNUSU stated that instead, the incompetent officials have been recruited for crucial posts.
It also said that Prof. Shukla faces allegations of corruption and unaccountability in appointing four “inefficient” officials without due process.
The JNUSU said that the NEHU students have also raised concerns over the recruitment process for teachers and non-teaching staff, which disregards rules and procedures. It also said the university suffers from crumbling infrastructure, Incompetent recruitment, lack of basic facilities (e.g., drinking water in hostels), and delayed fellowship approvals for research scholars.
“Under Shukla’s leadership, NEHU is failing as one of North-Eastern India’s significant universities. This mirrors the state of higher education under the current Modi government, affecting even top universities like JNU,” the union said.
