Editor,
What began in December as a promise of improved urban infrastructure has transformed into a gruelling landscape of neglect for the residents of Laban and Kench’s Trace. For five months, the stretch of road running from Seven Set School to the Crinoline Swimming Pool, adjacent to the Survey of India, has remained a shattered ruin of open trenches and stagnant progress. What was meant to be a routine drainage upgrade has instead become a permanent “void” in the middle of a vital residential artery.
A Pedestrian Minefield : For the students of Seven Set School and the daily walkers heading toward the Crinoline area, the path is no longer a public thoroughfare but a tactical obstacle course. The “huge holes” left behind by contractors are not merely unsightly; they are hazardous. With no proper barricading or lighting, these excavations pose a severe risk to life and limb, especially as the pre-monsoon showers begin to turn these open pits into invisible traps. The marrow-deep frustration of the public is palpable as they are forced to navigate jagged edges and narrow ledges just to move through their own neighborhood.
Logistical Paralysis for Residents : The residents living in the immediate vicinity of the Survey of India are bearing the heaviest burden. The unfinished works have effectively redesigned the local architecture into a series of inaccessible islands. People who have parked their cars in front of their gates for decades now find themselves in a state of logistical paralysis. With the road’s surface excavated and left in a state of “structural pressure,” finding a safe spot to leave a vehicle has become a daily struggle, forcing residents to park blocks away and trek through the mud to reach their homes.
The Silence of the Rangbah Shnong : Perhaps the most stinging aspect of this administrative failure is the apparent apathy of the local Rangbah Shnong. In our traditional system of governance, the Shnong is supposed to act as the protective layer between the residents and the inefficiencies of government departments. Yet, in the face of this five-month-long disruption, the local leadership has remained remarkably silent.
There is a glaring lack of oversight and urgency from the Shnong office. Why has the Rangbah Shnong allowed this project to drift into a state of permanent incompletion? Their failure to hold the contractors to a rigorous timeline suggests a breakdown in the very leadership structure that residents rely on for protection. It is one thing for a government department to be slow; it is another for the local headman to watch the ground being shredded beneath his people’s feet without demanding immediate restoration.
A Call for Accountability : Shillong cannot afford this “architecture of neglect.” As we move further into the year, the risk of disease from stagnant water and the physical danger of these open pits will only intensify. The residents of Seven Set and Crinoline deserve more than just a broken road; they deserve a leadership that refuses to accept half-finished holes as a way of life. It is time the concerned authorities—and the Rangbah Shnong—fill the void and complete the work before an avoidable tragedy occurs.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
NEHU Exams & Syllabus Concerns
Editor,
I wish to draw attention to serious academic concerns affecting undergraduate students of the sixth semester at NEHU. The National Education Policy (NEP) was implemented in 2023 in Meghalaya, and the present sixth semester students constitute the first batch under this system. Since the first semester, students have been facing continuous challenges related to extensive syllabus load, limited academic time, and lack of proper alignment in planning.
As per the academic calendar, classes for the Even semester commenced on 12 February 2026. However, theory examinations have been scheduled from 19 May 2026. While university regulations mandate a minimum of 90 actual teaching days per semester, the current schedule does not appear to realistically meet this requirement, particularly when Sundays and other holidays are considered.
At the same time, students are handling four honours papers with a very extensive syllabus. In several subjects, the syllabus remains vast and in many cases not fully completed due to the limited academic timeframe. There also appears to be a lack of alignment between the prescribed syllabus and the availability of academic resources. In some papers, topics have been prescribed without ensuring the availability of sufficient academic material or reference sources, which makes it difficult for students to engage with the content meaningfully and prepare for examinations.
As a result, students are being required to appear for examinations without the full course being completed. This has been a recurring issue since earlier semesters as well and continues to affect the academic experience of students.
This situation highlights a gap between prescribed academic standards and their implementation. Greater alignment between syllabus design, teaching duration, and examination scheduling is necessary.
It is requested that the concerned authorities take note of these concerns and ensure that academic policies are implemented in a manner that allows proper completion of the syllabus before examinations are conducted.
Yours etc.,
A.Das,
Via email
Repeated Anomalies by NEHU
Editor,
As concerned stakeholders and on behalf of our students we would like to bring to the attention of all regarding the anomalies in the functioning of the esteemed North Eastern Hill University’s Examination Department.
The NEHU Ordinance OC-15 Amended Provision on Academic Calendar of the University under section 26 (1) (q) of the NEHU Act 1973 states that “The University will have at least 180 days of actual teaching in a year, with at least 90 teaching days in a semester.”
Keeping this mandate in mind let me now proceed.
NEHU issued the Academic Calendar for Undergraduate Courses for Affiliated Colleges of NEHU (2025-26) (check the NEHU website), wherein NEHU notified that regular classes for the Even semester in colleges are to begin on 12.02.2026. Keeping in mind the mandated actual teaching days of 90 days per semester, as stated above, NEHU has issued a notification dated April 24, 2,026 bearing.No: AR/ UG/FYUP/Programme/2025-5499 notifying Theory examinations for the Even semester from May 19, 2026.
In light of the above and keeping in mind the dates, we fail to rationalise as to how NEHU can schedule and notify the examination dates for the Even semester UG students from 19.05.2026 when the minimum 90 actual teaching days criterion is not fulfilled?
Kindly do the simple math, from the date of the resumption of classes as per the academic calendar 12.02.2026 till the date of the present Even semester exam i.e. 19.05.2026 there are 96 days which also include Sundays as well as other national and state holidays.
How does NEHU make ordinances and flout them? How do they expect college teachers to do justice to the NEP syllabus? How do they expect these first batch of students, who with no NEP exposure in their earlier education levels, i.e., schools acclimatize to the syllabus load especially those in the 6th and 4th Semester who have 4 honours papers? Strangely when one looks at the PG Academic Calendar, the same criterion stated above is fulfilled because the University re-opening date is 12.02.2026 and the scheduled date of PG Even Semester examination is 18.06.2026.
Yours etc.,
A.Basaiawmoit,
Via email
