By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 1: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Thursday launched an indefinite sit-in outside the administrative block of NEIGRIHMS, expressing dissatisfaction with the institute’s inaction on a list of long-standing demands.
The protest began at 2 pm, with KSU members displaying banners and denouncing the administration’s “adamant attitude”.
The Union had submitted a 10-point charter of demands to the institute, urging immediate action.
A major concern raised was the alleged gender disparity in the 2023 recruitment of nursing officers through NORCET. The KSU condemned this as a “serious oversight” and claimed that most of the male candidates were “leftovers” from other institutions, absorbed due to NEIGRIHMS’ failure to maintain a balanced recruitment ratio of 20:80 (male to female). KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said the protest would continue until the institute gives a firm commitment to address their demands.
He attributed the deadlock to NEIGRIHMS Director Prof. Nalin Mehta, accusing him of being unresponsive.
Other demands include reinstating the upper age limit for nursing officer posts to 35 years and age relaxations for reserved categories.
The Union demanded that the current advertisement be suspended until all issues are addressed, and warned that failure to act on these concerns would force them to escalate their agitation.
