Biplab Kr Dey
Tura, Oct 8: Social activist, Nilbath Ch Marak has submitted a complaint this morning to the office of the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education seeking action against one lecturer, Twinsilda K Marak who, he alleged, was under qualified for the role in her capacity as an educator for Economics in Mendipathar College in North Garo Hills.
The complaint comes in the wake of 4 lecturers from the Tikrikilla College who were dismissed from their role over producing distance learning certificates. Incidentally, Twinsilda is the spouse of the Kharkutta MLA, Rupert Momin.
Twinsilda apparently, as per the Mendipathar College’s forwarding letter to the DHTE, secured only 32% in her graduation which she completed in 2005 before getting a distance learning degree in MA from Dibrugarh University.
“The complaint is extremely serious in nature as it concerns generations of students who are studying in the Mendipathar College in North Garo Hills. Her name has also been submitted to your office for acceptance as a full time employee since Mendipathar College has been made into a people’s college, recently,” stated Nilbath in his complaint.
A copy of the complaint has also been marked to the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, the minister of education, Lakhmen Rymbui as well as the local MLA of Mendipathar, Marthon J Sangma (who is also the president of the governing body).
Nilbath asserted that the anomaly of Marak securing the role of a lecturer despite not meeting even the basic criteria for qualification has raised several questions which needed a serious investigation.
The lecturer has been employed in the college since the year 2013 which has raised serious eye brows on the complicity to let her continue in her role as lecturer.
“How has someone been employed in the College since 2013 with only 32% in her graduation (when the passing mark was only 30%). What is even more surprising is that she is teaching such a highly specialized subject as Economics to students in the College. To top it all, she also has a distance learning degree which automatically disqualifies her. How has she been allowed to continue, is an absolute mystery,” he felt.
Nilbath asserted that after going through the norms of NEHU for eligibility as lecturers, the cut off mark has been set at 50% for ST and 55% for others with distance learning certificates being a complete no go.
“When 4 such educationists have been expelled already from the Tikrikilla College, why has there been no action against the Mendipathar College lecturer? Is this not a clear case of nepotism and favouritism just because she is the spouse of the Kharkutta MLA. The fact that she has continued in the same capacity despite the norms forbidding it, shows nepotism and favouritism to the lecturer only due to her status,” asserted Nilbath.
Like Mendipathar, the Tikrikilla College has also been given the ‘People’s College’ tag recently which allows for absorption of 24 lecturers.
The favouritism, he added has also been rolled on to the college administration itself when a new living quarter was made specifically for her when there was no GB for the College, a matter that was raised by Nilbath earlier as well.
“As an activist, I find the entire process of her recruitment into what is a highly specialized role as an Economics instructor, highly suspicious and reeking of backing and nepotism. Her credentials as a lecturer have already been exposed,” he asserted.
Hitting out at the DHTE for its lack of action in the matter, the activist stated that this was showing up not only the department but the entire state.
“You preferential treatment for a lecturer who is obviously under qualified and barely scraped through her graduation is beyond understanding. I request an investigation into how she has been able to continue as a lecturer in one of the most prominent colleges in Garo Hills for 12 years and who actually allowed her employment despite the glaring lack of qualification,” stated the social activist in his complaint.
The inquiry, he said, needed to be time bound so as to ensure students don’t suffer and sought her termination immediately, once the facts are determined.
Seeking an action taken report from the DHTE, Nilbath asked for the matter to be taken very seriously or he would not shy from approaching the Meghalaya High Court, should the department fail to act.
“It is time for your department to set an example and show to the rest of the state and country that back door appointments will not be tolerated and those that actually get in through such means will be doing so at their own peril,” said Nilbath in his complaint.
