The crisis that has engulfed NEIGRIHMS deepened today, with the Khasi Students Union (KSU) warning NEIGRIHMS Director Dr Nalin Mehta not to return from New Delhi if he cannot secure a change in the nursing ratios that the pressure group has been demanding.
The KSU’s sit-in demonstration at the teaching hospital continued for a second day today. The pressure group wants an 80:20 female to male ratio applied in nursing positions at the institute and more jobs for local healthcare workers.
The KSU is not the only group to have taken aim at NEIGRIHMS over the staffing issue, with the Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) also targeting the institute and its Director.
In response, the NEIGRIHMS Faculty Association (NFA) today expressed its deep concern over the recent protests held within the campus premises over the last few months, warning that they are creating a climate of tension that could negatively affect patient care.
Meanwhile, Dr Mehta issued a press release today to reiterate that NEIGRIHMS has put forward representations to the central government, which has overall responsibility for the institute, regarding the nursing ratio and other matters but these have not been accepted yet.
Dr Mehta is said to have left for Delhi yesterday, according to the KSU, which claimed that he, despite his arguments to the contrary, has been unresponsive to the demands of the union. The pressure group described NEIGRIHMS’ recruitment process as against the interests of the indigenous people of Meghalaya.
“If he can’t resolve the recruitment process in NEIGRIHMS it will be better for him to stay put in New Delhi,” a KSU leader said, adding that the pressure group will not allow him to set foot in NEIGRIHMS again until he resolves the issues.
The KSU also castigated the state’s MLAs for their supposed silence on the matter.
Meanwhile, the NFA said that it recognises the right to peaceful expression and dialogue but the “choice of venue and manner of protest raise serious concerns.” Any activity that hampers clinical care, disturbs the academic environment, or poses potential law and order challenges must be viewed with seriousness, it added.
Demonstrations that disrupt administrative functioning or which restrict free movement may “indirectly compromise” the institute’s mission and obligations to the public as well as patient care.
The NFA called for the end to such protests on the NEIGRIHMS campus. It warned that they could negatively affect the recruitment of quality candidates, who may be put off from working in such a space at a time when the institute is already facing a shortage of staff.
“We urge all stakeholders to preserve the integrity of our campus environment and to engage in constructive dialogue through appropriate channels, in the larger interest of the institution and the people we serve,” it added.
For his part, Dr Mehta said that NEIGRIHMS has duly forwarded all letters, representations and communications from local organisations, MPs and the Meghalaya Health Minister to the central government for review and necessary action. These representations include demands related to local reservation criteria, an increase in age limits, conduct of the recruitment examination by NEIGRIHMS itself, etc.
“NEIGRIHMS acts strictly as per the instructions, orders, and policy directions received from the Ministry. We await further guidance and approval from the Ministry on the above matters,” the Director said.
Dr Mehta also clarified that male nursing officers hired during the last intake are not lower in merit, as has been claimed by some. “On the contrary, several of them had higher ranks but were allocated to NEIGRIHMS due to the 80:20 female to male recruitment ratio being enforced at AIIMS institutions. As a result, female candidates with lower ranks were selected for AIIMS, while higher-ranking male candidates were posted to NEIGRIHMS under the central allocation mechanism.”
He ended by saying that NEIGRIHMS remains committed to transparency, fairness and adherence to government norms in all its recruitment processes. “We urge all stakeholders to await official communication from the Ministry and to refrain from actions that may disrupt institutional functioning.”
