NEHU unrest widens as Tura campus staff launch pen-down protest

Tura, June 17: Fresh unrest has surfaced at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), with employees of the Tura Campus launching a pen down–tool down agitation over a series of unresolved service and welfare issues.

Members of the NEHU Tura Campus Staff Welfare Association assembled outside the Administrative Building on Tuesday, holding placards and banners demanding implementation of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) orders, a review of alleged arbitrary promotion and demotion decisions, immediate release of gratuity benefits, registration under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and timely payment of salaries to casual employees.

The protest follows a memorandum submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on June 10, in which the association expressed disappointment over what it described as the university administration’s failure to address long-pending grievances despite repeated representations made over the past several weeks. According to the association, earlier appeals had also been submitted to the Vice-Chancellor and local campus authorities, but no meaningful response was received.

Employees alleged that the continued inaction reflected a lack of sensitivity towards staff concerns, leaving them with no option but to launch an agitation. While the protest remains peaceful, employees say it will continue until the administration initiates concrete steps to resolve the issues.

Placards carried by protesters reflected growing frustration among staff, with messages calling on campus authorities to end what they described as discriminatory treatment and administrative neglect.

The latest agitation adds to a period of turbulence at NEHU, which has witnessed a series of protests and controversies in recent months. The staff association maintains that its demands are linked to employee welfare, service benefits and administrative fairness rather than any political issue.

Copies of the memorandum have been forwarded to the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Tura Campus, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, heads of departments and sections, the Post Graduate Students’ Union and the Garo Students’ Union, indicating efforts to build wider support for the employees’ concerns.

Established in 1996, the Tura Campus is a key academic centre of NEHU in western Meghalaya and hosts multiple postgraduate and research departments. Employees say resolving the pending issues is essential not only for staff welfare but also for the smooth functioning of the campus.

For now, all eyes are on the university administration as employees wait for a response that could determine whether the agitation is resolved through dialogue or escalates further.

Also Read: Over ₹6 lakh Cr invested in NE since 2014 to build connectivity, trade and tourism hub: Shekhawat

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