NONGPOH, Feb 6: The Ri-Bhoi People’s Council (RBPC) on Thursday strongly criticised the management of PA Sangma International Medical College (PIMC) under the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) for registering its health shuttle vehicles in Assam instead of Meghalaya.
The leaders of the organisation have expressed their disapproval after Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma officially launched 10 health shuttle vehicles belonging to PIMC earlier in the day at his residence in Shillong. The fleet included five AC buses and five Urbania vans.
Addressing the media persons, Council president, Jayson Lennox Nongrum, slammed USTM for failing to reflect its association with Meghalaya, despite being physically located within the state. He pointed out that even the tax revenues generated by the institution were benefiting Assam instead of Meghalaya. Nongrum’s remarks came after it was revealed that all the newly inaugurated health shuttle vehicles were registered in Assam, a move the organisation sees as disrespectful toward Meghalaya’s leadership.
Nongrum questioned the university’s decision to register its vehicles in Assam, especially when the Meghalaya government has consistently supported the institution.
Exhorting the state government to take immediate action to prevent such instances in the future, Nongrum emphasised that if there were any administrative hurdles from Assam, Meghalaya must intervene to ensure that vehicles operating in the state are registered locally.
The organisation also demanded that the registration of these vehicles be transferred to Meghalaya.
Further casting aspersions on the university, Nongrum alleged that this was not the first time the USTM had shown favoritism toward Assam over Meghalaya.
He highlighted that USTM frequently uses Assamese Gamocha instead of Meghalaya’s Ryndia fabric during official programmes, despite Ryndia’s cultural significance in the state.
He accused USTM of favoring Assam-based newspapers for advertisements rather than supporting Meghalaya’s local media.
Nongrum urged the USTM to change its approach and prioritise Meghalaya-based media outlets as a gesture of respect toward the state, which has played a crucial role in USTM’s growth and development for the benefit of students across the Northeast.
