Editor,
In the recent past, there have been news items concerning delay in publication of Undergraduate results, publication of merit list etc. The University would like to apprise the students concerned in particular and other stakeholders in general as under:
It is a fact that North-Eastern Hill University was set up with the aspiration that it would lift the higher education scenario of the region and bring the students of this region at par with their counterparts in the rest of the country. In this direction, the University has established a number of Academic Departments where the students can pursue their higher education without resorting to admission in other parts of the country.
The University has been offering a number of courses including Undergraduate courses at the affiliated colleges in the state of Meghalaya. Under the banner of Undergraduate courses there are Annual Systems of examinations and Semester System of examinations being conducted by the University.
Normally, the Undergraduate Annual System examinations commences from the middle of February of each year but because of the state elections held in February 2018, the said examinations commenced from 7th of March and continued till 18th of April 2018 inclusive of Practical Examinations. Immediately after completion of examinations, necessary steps were taken to announce the results by following the required procedures. The first results under the Annual System was declared on June 14, 2018 and completed on June 29, 2018.
During the currency of the announcement of Annual results, the University had notified the Examination Programme for the Even Semester Examinations which includes the final semester (6th semester of 2015 batch for the first time). The Even Semester Examinations commenced from April 25, 2018 and concluded in the middle of June 2018. During the currency of Even Semester Examinations, the University had initiated the process of evaluation for the concluded examinations so as to ensure that the final semester / 6th semester examination results are announced latest by first week of July 2018. Unfortunately, the University could not meet its target due to total dislocation of the evaluation process during the period from May 31, 2018 till June 10, 2018 due to unrest in the city.
However, with the active support from the College teachers the University could announce most of the final semester results by July 20, 2018. Anticipating marginal delay in publication of results, the University has already extended the time for admission of various Postgraduate courses in NEHU from July 18 to July 23rd 2018 so as to enable the students to submit their applications. As the admission in the University is resorted to through online system, therefore the students should not have been affected in submission of their applications even if the BA results were announced on July 20, 2018.
In so far the publication of Merit List of results are concerned, the same has been kept in abeyance because the re-evaluation results of odd semesters (1st, 3rd and 5th semester) belonging to 2015 batch students is under process. Without taking into account the re-evaluated results, there could be a cascading effect on the overall merit List. Meanwhile efforts are being made to release the Merit List in a phased manner at the earliest possible time.
On the issue of WIFI services, the University has two WIFI segments: (1) Department WIFI across the campus fully funded by MHRD operational since May 29, 2017 and (2) Hostel WIFI in 23 hostels and operational since July 2014 from the University’s fund and being fully utilised by all hostellers free of cost and not only during the NAAC/NIRF visit as claimed by the aggrieved hostellers. The system logs all activities.
It is true that WIFI in several hostels and not only Pahsyntiew were down from May 12, 2018 because of three major lighting strikes one after another in subsequent weeks. Switches & APs were replaced from the available spares with the first two strikes but new ones have to be procured as warranty/AMC does not cover lightning strikes. The University in the meantime is also in the process of putting in place lighting strikes safety measures for devices in all hostels which are very prone to frequent lightning strikes. The Internet Access is however available in all other hostels and departments for the same aggrieved hostellers to use till such time the new equipment is installed.
With regards to the claim of inadequate water supply, the Assistant Engineer (Civil), Campus Development Department has clarified that the Department did not receive any complaints regarding the same. In fact, water supply has been normal since January 2018. Water supply gets interrupted only when there is no current. In case of water shortage, water tanks are deployed as and when the situation arises.
Finally, the university assures the student community that the University is all out to fulfill the aspirations of the students for a better future.
Yours etc.,
- Umdor,
Public Relations Officer,
North-Eastern Hill University,
Shillong
Why demean our mothers?
Editor,
The ban on entry of women aged between 10 and 50 years into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala is ridiculous. If women are to be treated as untouchables for their menstrual cycles then we all need to be treated as such as women during that very period of their lives gave birth to all of us. To despise women in general and to despise their menstrual periods in particular is nothing but to despise our very birth and our lifeblood. Indeed. Such primitive attitude of demeaning our own birth keeps a woman in quarantine before she goes into labour.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata