A MOVING WELCOME

SHILLONG, May 21: Protests greeted Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday when he visited the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) here.
The members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) chanted “no ILP, no rest’ slogan at the NEHU entrance while the members of the All NEHU Workers’ Union (ANWU) demanded the regularisation of services of casual workers.
On seeing the protesters, Pradhan got out of his car and listened to them. He assured them that their sentiments would be conveyed to the central government.
The KSU activists argued that if ILP could be granted to Manipur soon after the BJP formed the government there, why it cannot be granted to Meghalaya where a resolution for the same was passed unanimously by the state Assembly.
“The BJP-led central government has not responded to the resolution to this day. That is the reason why we organised this protest demanding the implementation of ILP,” KSU assistant organising secretary, Pynkmen Sanmiet told reporters.
“We are glad that we got an opportunity to speak to the Union Minister face to face. He said he understands the sentiments of the tribals and that he will take up the matter with the Centre,” Sanmiet said.
He was hopeful that it will not be just another empty assurance and that the demand for ILP will continue to grow louder in every corner of the state.
ANWU president, Napoleon Mawphniang said the union had submitted its demand to the Vice Chancellor seeking the regularisation of services of the casual workers on the grounds that many of them have been working for 10 to 30 years now and are entitled to get regularisation according to law.
“We had submitted the memorandum last month. We gave 30 days’ time and it expires on May 29. We thought since the Union Education Minister is here, we must stage this symbolic protest,” Mawphniang said.
He cautioned that once the deadline expires, the union will make use of all the democratic steps, guaranteed by the Constitution of India, to get their rights.
The ANWU president claimed, “Some casual workers, who have relatives in NEHU working as officers, are getting regularised in 3-10 years.”
“Some have moved court. We want to help others who do not have money. We will demand their rights,” Mawphniang said, adding there are over 500 casual workers in the NEHU Shillong campus alone. He said a protest was also staged at the NEHU’s Tura campus.