From Ronald Syiem
NONGSTOIN: The rural colleges in Meghalaya have been deprived of allotted sanctioned posts in comparison to other colleges.
Rural colleges play an important role in shaping the youths and are often the lifeblood of rural communities.
In the state, there are 13 deficit colleges which fall under section 2F and 12B of the UGC Act 1956, governed by the same policy.
These colleges have the same status under the UGC Act, but when it comes to the sanctioned posts created by the government there is a wide disparity.
St. Edmunds’ College has 101 sanctioned posts and the break-up of sanctioned posts in other colleges are St. Anthony’s (101), Lady Keane (74), St Mary’s (75), Shillong College(74), Synod College (56), Sankardev College ( 54), UCC College (40), Ri Bhoi College (8), Mendipathar (12), Donbosco Tura College (25) and Nongstoin College (6).
The rural colleges like Mendipathar College, Nongpoh College, and Nongstoin College have the least number of sanctioned posts.
Nongstoin College, located at the Headquarters of West Khasi Hills, was set up in 1978 and it was granted deficit status in 1996 with 6 sanctioned posts, which is the least number of sanctioned posts in comparison to other deficit colleges in the state.
The Nongstoiñ College has been accredited and awarded the best rating 2.60-CGPA with B Grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
After survey, this correspondent found out that the Nongstoin Youth Welfare Organisation, as the sponsoring body of the college, has no capacity to generate funds for Nongstoin College since 1996.
Therefore, the college has managed the salary and other expenditures from the students’ fees solely.
The teachers are getting salary below the salary of Grade-IV employees of the government.
In order to maintain the academic standard as per UCG norms and NEHU ordinance rules (NEHU Ordinance OB-6 and as per University regulation minimum staffing requirement), the governing body has to appoint 57 teachers and 12 non-teaching staff for running the college since 1999.
At present, the college has 3 streams (Arts, Commerce, and Science) for both Under Graduate and Higher Secondary sections with a capacity of 2200 students.
Speaking to The Shillong times, the college staff said, “Many promises were made by different chief ministers of Meghalaya and ministers who visited the college in the past assuring additional government sanctioned posts, but it was materialised.
The state government has lost its concentration on colleges in rural areas and it seems that the government is city-centric in terms of development.
The colleges in Shillong, in comparison to rural colleges like the Nongstoin College which has the same status, have exceeded the number of sanctioned posts as per the UGC norms.
Despite many difficult issues being faced by rural communities, efforts are being made by the Nongstoin College to ensure opportunities for the people.
Sources said the local MLA should intervene and put pressure on the state to create more additional sanctioned posts in Nongstoin College as per UGC norms and the NEHU ordinance rules.
West Khasi Hills also needs one government college as per the policy of the government where each district should have one government college in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of rural area and to protect the bright future of students studying in West Khasi Hills.