TURA, May 22: The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Tura Campus is once again likely to witness agitations flaring up in the coming days after the assurances given by the Vice Chancellor of the University have still to come to fruition.
Earlier, various NGOs under the banner of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) had locked the gates to the University campus in Tura in January over various demands that included the appointment of a new pro vice chancellor for the campus as well as addressing the concerns of the employees who demanded equal pay for equal work.
In Shillong, various employees of NEHU had protested in front of the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, seeking redressal of their pay problems. The agitation was so intense that it required the minister to get out of his car and assure those present of their issue being looked into.
“We will once again be taking up the issue as this makes no sense. When the VC himself has promised to make things right, why has he not still? We met him in January and he assured us of things being worked out but he has failed to do so on one pretext or another,” said JAC member, Zikku Balgra Marak.
The JAC had forced the VC to keep his promise to come to the Tura campus in January after the VC continued to delay coming there to address the concerns raised by the NGOs and temporary staff.
“Temporary staff are fighting for their legitimate right for five years but the NEHU authorities are totally insensitive to their right,” added Zikku.
As per sources, the University has actually gone back on its own words vide the order issued by them in January 1989. The order guarantees equal pay for equal work.
“NEHU is not honouring its own notification which is the outcome of an Executive Council decision. The temporary staff have provided all the documentary evidence but NEHU is showing its stubbornness. As a last resort these staff approached the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Guwahati, for redressal of their grievances. Again, NEHU authorities are not responding to the notice issued by the Deputy CLC, Guwahati,” added the NGOs.
The JAC asserted that it was a very sorry state of affairs which is showing NEHU’s image in a very poor light.
“This is why the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, had to face angry protesters in Shillong on Saturday. What we can assure is that we will continue this fight for the sake of the employees of the Tura campus as well as the students. The VC has to ensure that right is done in both cases,” the JAC member stated.
