NEIGRIHMS RECRUITMENT
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 24: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) is still awaiting a response from the state government on finalising a date for an official meeting with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address concerns over recruitment and reservation policies at NEIGRIHMS.
During a meeting held on May 5 this year, Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh had assured that he would lead a delegation to meet the Union Health Minister to discuss policy-related issues beyond the jurisdiction of NEIGRIHMS’ administration.
Following this assurance and intervention by the state government, NEIGRIHMS temporarily suspended its recruitment process for nursing officer posts.
The KSU has been demanding that NEIGRIHMS adopt an 80:20 female-to-male recruitment ratio for nursing officer posts and prioritise employment opportunities for local healthcare professionals.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, KSU Employment Monitoring Cell (EMC) chairman, Reuben Najiar, said they are still waiting for the government to schedule the official meeting with the Union Ministry. He pointed out that the Union had suspended its protest activities in good faith, relying on the government’s assurance and the institute’s decision to pause recruitment. “We want an official-level meeting with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to discuss our concerns. So far, we are still waiting for the government to act,” Najiar said.
He added that while the KSU continues to engage informally with various authorities, only a formal meeting will determine whether the Ministry endorses their demands. “We have received some positive responses, but only an official meeting will confirm the Ministry’s stance,” he noted.
The key issues raised by the KSU during its indefinite sit-in protest include reinstating the previous upper age limit of 35 years for nursing officer recruitment and other posts as per earlier notifications, implementing the 80:20 female-to-male recruitment ratio, removing the condition that experience certificates must be issued only by 50-bedded hospitals, and ensuring that recruitment examinations are conducted in Meghalaya through offline mode rather than in other states
In addition, the KSU has demanded that NEIGRIHMS conduct its own recruitment exams in the future. The Union has also sought the extension of the reservation policy to Group B posts and called for revised recruitment rules to be thoroughly discussed with stakeholders and NEIGRIHMS employee associations in order to avoid further complications.
