By Our Reporter
Shillong: Countering the argument that the protracted struggle for payment of Hill Areas Special Allowance (HASA) has resulted in the stagnation, if not degeneration of the Central University, a section of faculty have laid the blame for this squarely on respective Vice Chancellors (VC) of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) who they said are more interested in promoting their careers even while the University went to seed.
“NEHU teachers, students and employees had worked hard to achieve the distinction of being designated as a University with Potential for Excellence by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The University was awarded ‘A’ grade in 2009 by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). But NEHU’s ranking went down although in the last three years there has been no agitation. So it is important to look at the real causes,” said a senior professor.
A more vocal and strident faculty member said, “There is no one to look after NEHU’s interests. The NEHU Statues/Acts vest all power with the VC. The former VC Prof Pramod Tandon and the present incumbent Prof AN Rai are absentee VCs trying for better posting.
“We can count the number of days they are in station. When do they attend to office work?” he queried.
Still others point to the fact that Prof Rai left Mizoram in between a term to become NEHU VC. “This proves he is not committed to the Institution he serves as he is ready to leave as soon as he got a better posting.”
The NEHU grapevine says Rai is now trying to become NAAC Director.
The employees and teachers agitated about HASA during Prof Tandon’s term. They believe Prof Tandon was instrumental in pushing the Ministry for Human Resources Development (MHRD) to object to it.
It may be reminded that when late Dr B Pakem was VC, he had persuaded the then President of India to grant the HASA over and above other allowances with the objective of attracting and retaining talent. The Ordinance was approved by the MHRD.
It is believed that both Prof Tandon and Prof Rai have not argued in favour of HASA because they are trying to please the MHRD for better opportunities. The University has replied to MHRD’s objection to which it has not replied because its contention that HASA is a double benefit was repudiated.
University sources say that both Prof Tandon and Prof Rai have ingratiated themselves with the MHRD for personal benefits and were given High Academic Grade (HAG) which is a blatant case of self promotion.
An order from the High Court of Meghalaya dated May 6 last has challenged these promotions.
The general buzz in the University is that indigenous VCs have proven to be more interested in the health of the University than those they term as ‘agents of Government of India’.