Editor,
There is a great deal of profligacy in NEHU”. This is the only university in the country where the designated houses for specific officers of the university are not occupied and the concerned officers are at liberty to stay outside and enjoy house rent and other facilities. These unoccupied quarters are going to seed and depreciating quickly as no other person can be allotted these houses. The University has built grand homes for the Registrar, Finance Officer and the Controller of Examinations spending crores of rupees. Out of these, two houses i.e. the house of the Registrar, and the Controller of Examination is lying vacant for several years while the Finance Officer’s house is lying vacant since last year. Interestingly, at present the University has a regular Registrar and Controller of Examination. But why are these officers not told to stay in the designated residence within the University. There are another two houses which are said to have been built from the beginning as ‘Model houses’. These are also lying vacant for many years, for reasons best known to the University authorities. At present they are totally damaged. As the University authorities have no idea how to use these two Model houses properly, they should be declared and converted as ‘NEHU monuments’ as they are symbolic of the decrepit nature of campus development from beginning. The authorities are adopting a lackadaisical attitude towards the University. Surprisingly, this type of liberty and non-concern does not remain restricted to these houses. There are quarters which have been allotted to teachers but University says there is no money for minimal repairs like white-wash etc. of these houses. Hence these quarters are lying vacant and have degenerated over the years due to non-maintenance.
There are also examples of University allowing teachers to stay in their previously allotted houses even after the completion of the repair work in the newly allotted ones. So some teachers are actually occupying two houses. The University has the Resident allotment committee (RAC) which allots houses, however, further minimal repairing etc is done separately by the university maintenance cell. There is no coordination between the two and no one is responsible for this mismanagement. Two weeks ago the students from the hostel did not attend classes for two days in protest against very poor maintenance of the hostels where living condition is pathetic. The University does not have a definite policy on these matters also.
In fact, at present the University is passing through a difficult transition phase where the high officials are not interested in changing the policies of the earlier Vice Chancellor. For over two months the University has not had a regular Vice Chancellor. The senior-most Professor is the Vice Chancellor of the University. Is he not taking decisions because he does not want to displease his subordinate officers or because he thinks that it is not his responsibility and therefore let the regular VC come and tackle the problems. The Registrar is not fully aware about the various components such as Hostels, Departments, Act, Statutes and Ordinances of the University. But the greatest surprise is that even after more than two months the University is not able to recommend names to MHRD for the constitution of Search Committee meant to search for a new VC of NEHU. Who should be held responsible for this careless and callous approach? Let there be some response and positive discussion on these or more issues in NEHU. However, the respondents should identify themselves. The University authorities may feel that only good things about NEHU should be known to the public. But the University being a public institution and being run on public money, all things good or bad should be known to public as they are also the stakeholders of NEHU.
Yours etc.,
Prof. S.B. Prasad
NEHU, Shillong-22
Medical seats dilemma
Editor,
Apropos the letter “Medical Seats” (ST Sep7, 2013), I would like to add a few more points. The government has paid no attention to the fact that classes in some medical colleges had already commenced a month back. The indecision, fickle-mindedness and laid-back attitude of the Health Department astonishes me as the future of the medical aspirants of our state lies in their hands. The Department should be made aware that whilst waiting for the release of their state quota list which they were promised a month back, the majority of students had surrendered their seats in other institutions. Has it ever occurred to the Government that this lackadaisical attitude is actually jeopardising the future of the students who have been referred to as the “future of tomorrow?” Very little significance is given to educational matters, because political issues seem to be the priority in Meghalaya and the students’ unions. It seems that the government could not care less about the fate of the students who are nervously waiting for the release of the state quota medical list.
Yours etc.,
A concerned student,
(Name withheld on request)
Hunger strike?
Editor
The report “KHNAM calls hunger strike on Monday” from 10 am to 4 pm must be a printing mistake because 6 hours of hunger is no protest at all. Millions in India and may be thousands in the KHNAM constituencies are starving for more hours than 6 hours every day, since they simply cannot afford to have two square meals a day. How can one call for a six hour abstinence from food a ‘Hunger strike’ that too for a day only, to protest against non- implementation of a demand. Is it not a laughably pathetic means of protest? Think Irom Sharmila who has been on hunger strike for 11 years for a cause she believes in!
Yours etc.,
T. Dasgupta,
Via email
No justification for ILP
Editor,
It is incredible that the members of the so-called High Powered Committee are talking of Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation Act of 1873 and 1897. The focal point of ILP on which there are differences of opinion between Government and various interests/pressure groups revolves around a nation called Bangladesh which came into existence only in 1971.The moot point is -are these HPC members or any other debators arguing just for the sake of arguing without bringing anything to the table? This seems to be classic case of empty drums making too much noise.
Yours etc.,
Nesfield Sangma
