The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has sought reservation of tribal Meghalaya students to various courses in the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) campus in Shillong.
VPP legislators Brightstarwell Marbaniang, Adelbert Nongrum and Heavingstone Kharpran met with EFLU Registrar Narasimha Rao Kedari in Hyderabad yesterday.
In the representation, the VPP said that Shillong being one of the educational hubs of the region has many academic institutions where the focus and mandate is to uplift the academic atmosphere thereby giving ample opportunities to the students in pursuing their dreams and passion.
“I understand that it is in this context that the Shillong Campus (of EFLU) was established for providing quality education in English and other allied courses to the region in general and Meghalaya in particular. However, since its establishment the percentage of students from Meghalaya is minimal to say the least in the university,” Marbaniang said.
The party also said no such reservation was given to students of Meghalaya unlike other universities like the North Eastern Hill University which provides reservation for students of the state.
According to Marbaniang, Kedari assured the VPP that he will apprise the higher authorities like the central government on the issue.
The EFLU Registrar also told him that an ordinance will have to be brought in the Parliament since it is a central university.
Speaking to media persons from Hyderabad, the VPP legislator said that the National Law University in Shillong which started its course in the state this year has 50 per cent reservation for students of the state.
“We also feel that the EFLU which has a campus in Shillong should have certain seats allotted for students of Meghalaya. Else its presence here would not be useful for us,” Marbaniang said.
