Shillong: Support for the ongoing indefinite hunger strike by students at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Prof. PS Shukla has swelled, as the university’s non-teaching staff association (NEHUNSA) formally backed the protest. Citing concerns over leadership and administrative mismanagement, both students and staff are united in their call for immediate action.
NEHUNSA president Dr. WR Synrem, after an emergency general meeting, voiced the association’s frustrations. “The university is not a training ground for inexperienced leaders,” he stated, arguing that the vice chancellor’s lack of administrative and academic insight has caused substantial disruption. Delayed file processing and the appointment of allegedly unqualified personnel have impacted daily operations and morale among staff.
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Further criticisms from NEHUNSA include the state of the campus infrastructure. Dr. Synrem pointed to the neglected condition of campus roads, streetlights, and employee housing, all of which, according to him, have deteriorated under Prof. Shukla’s tenure. Staff reportedly bear the cost of repairs themselves, despite regular house rent allowance deductions.
Meanwhile, the student protest, led by the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and supported by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU–NEHU Unit), entered its seventh day, with nine students hospitalized due to worsening health conditions. On Monday, the students submitted a petition to President Droupadi Murmu, urging immediate action. They allege that the vice chancellor’s absence during the protest reflects a lack of accountability, further compounded by a history of unresponsiveness in times of crisis.
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“With examinations approaching, the VC’s absence has created a leadership vacuum affecting not only NEHU students but also those in affiliated colleges,” the student unions stated. They highlighted the critical health risks faced by students on hunger strike, adding that Prof. Shukla’s absence has left them feeling unsupported and vulnerable.
The students and staff both emphasize that these ongoing issues—compounded by administrative delays, inadequate campus infrastructure, and perceived disregard for student welfare—warrant a change in leadership to restore confidence in NEHU’s administration.
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