SHILLONG, JAN 12: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Monday instructed officials of the department to meet with the Pro-Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU)’s Tura campus to find solutions to the administrative crisis plating the university due to absence of Vice Chancellor Prof P Shukla for the past 422 days.

Rymbui’s directive follows a meeting with NEHU stakeholders, including NEHUTA, NEHUNSA, NEHUSU, and KSU, who urged him to intervene in the crisis.

The stakeholders have requested that the Pro-VC of the Tura campus either takes charge as Acting VC or resigns, allowing a senior professor to assume responsibility and restore stability to the university

“I have (asked) my officers to arrange a meeting with the Pro-VC of Tura to see what is her view so that the government’s main intention is that the programme, the student community should not be at all affected in NEHU as if it is affecting them in NEHU it will affect entire state as many colleges are affiliated to NEHU and even the scholarship of students will also be affected,” Rymbui told reporters.

Expressing concern over the administrative crisis at NEHU, the minister said, “The administration in NEHU has become paralyzed… it is very difficult for declaring results, for payment of wages, for sanctioning of different seminars and more importantly for the declaration of results and other programmes of NEHU.”

The minister emphasized that the government’s priority is to ensure the university functions smoothly without affecting the student community.

Rymbui has written to the Union Minister on December 15, seeking a permanent solution to the crisis.

“I will try again to have a meeting with him that a permanent solution could be arrived at so that the functioning of NEHU, which is a premiere institution in India, could be academic business and running should be smooth,” he added.

The Minister emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue, citing the impact on students and affiliated colleges.

“We can’t wait for day-to-day office (work to suffer),” Rymbui said while reiterated that he has instructed officials to engage in formal dialogue with the Pro-VC to find a temporary solution, ensuring minimal disruption to academic activities.

“”The NEHU statutes don’t have the power to appoint an Acting VC… the present incumbent must resign, like Prof Umdor did, for the senior-most professor to take over,” he added.

He further stated, “The delay affects not only NEHU students but also those in affiliated colleges, impacting result declarations and more.”

Asked on the status of the inquiry instituted by the ministry, Rymbui said that the Ministry’s inquiry report, led by Prof DP Singh, remains undisclosed.

“The Ministry is very serious, that’s why they instituted an inquiry… but till date, we don’t know what’s in that report.”

The minister also informed that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has been engaging with the central government to find a permanent solution.

Rymbui emphasized the need to address both immediate and long-term challenges.

“We have to tackle two issues – the present context and a permanent solution,” he said, urging swift action to restore NEHU’s academic stability.

Also Read: Meghalaya Govt to increase STEM buses if proven helpful, says Rymbui

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