Nursing college makes Khasi mandatory for students

SHILLONG: Students of the College of Nursing at NEIGRIHMS here will have to converse only in Khasi or else face a fine of Rs 500.
In a notification issued by Catherine E. Myrthong, the principal of the college on Wednesday, all B.Sc. nursing students have been directed not to communicate in any other language but Khasi in their hostels and that a fine of Rs 500 would be imposed on those found communicating in any other language.
When contacted, Myrthong said students of the college are given about 45 hours of Khasi classes in the first year (about two to four sessions per week) and that the step has been taken to only to improve communication between the patients and the students.
“We have asked them to converse in Khasi in their hostels and even if they speak broken Khasi also, it doesn’t matter. The objective is to facilitate better communication between patients and students,” she said.
It may be mentioned that both College of Nursing and MBBS streams in
NEIGRIHMS receive students from all over India, especially from neighbouring Northeast states. There are about 200 students in the College of Nursing.
In another notification issued today, the students of the college have been asked not to go out of the college gate after 6pm. “Anyone who wishes to go to the Central Library are required to report back to the hostel before 6pm. All the students are directed to adhere to the same failing which action will be taken as per the discretion of the director,” it was stated in the notification.