Non-teaching employees of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have alleged that since the joining of the current vice chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, all works in the university have been disturbed due to the lack of administrative and academic knowledge.
The NEHU Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) in its emergent general body meeting held today also officially announced its support to the ongoing agitation of the NEHU Students’ Union in its demand for the resignation of the vice chancellor.
“It needs to be mentioned that since the joining of the current vice chancellor, all works in the university have been disturbed due to the lack of administrative and academic knowledge. As non-teaching employees who are directly involved in administrative duties are greatly frustrated due to the delay in the movement of files, the outcome of which is a delay in processing the regular works in the university. It seems that the vice chancellor has come to this university to learn, which is not expected of the executive head,” NEHUNSA president Dr. Wandondor R. Synrem and general secretary Jonathan Phira Nongbri said in a statement issued today.
According to the NEHUNSA, the interview for the statutory posts of the university was conducted in Guwahati, whereby the vice chancellor cited that it was due to the urgent need to fill these positions. “But to our utter disbelief, the Controller of Examinations, which was included in the interview, was allowed to join six months after the offer of appointment was made to him,” it added.
NEHUNSA also alleged that the condition of the roads in the campus is in a dilapidated condition, which was never the case since the inception of the university. “This issue too has been discussed with the vice chancellor repeatedly, but no action has been taken till date,” it said.
“The quarters allotted to the employees are never maintained by the university and the occupants have to shell out from their own pockets for any minor or major repairs despite their House Rent Allowance (HRA) being deducted every month. Street lights, which are very important during the night, are not functioning, hence compromising the security and safety of the residents, including the students,” NEHUNSA said.
It also stated that the RTI reply received recently clearly stated that compassionate appointment in Government of India offices has never been discontinued; however, NEHU is yet to notify the same.
“Medical advance, which needs to be granted within 10 (ten) days as Government of India rules at the rate of 90 per cent of the estimated expenditure was delayed for one of the unfortunate employees who felt seriously ill. This delay was for more than a month and has brought in hardship and difficulties for the employee as well as his family members. This shows the ignorance of the rules laid down for the purpose,” NEHUNSA said.
It also said that recently, a Deputy Registrar was appointed although he has no knowledge of correct English, despite the university’s medium of instruction being in English. “This has also affected the day to day working of the administration,” it added.
“NEHUNSA does not want to see that the university should be a training ground for the appointed officers. On the other hand, we expect that officers holding high posts should be guiding the staff in accordance with the rules passed by the Government of India,” it said.
