Shillong, March 26: The ongoing stand-off between the North-Eastern Hill University’s (NEHU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. PS Shukla and its statutory bodies – NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), and Non-Teaching Association (NEHUNSA) has severely impacted the functioning of the university with several projects and sanctioning of funds pending. But, the 5-month long stalemate has particularly impacted the administrative works due to the declining number of non-teaching staff.

At present, the university has less than one-fourth or 25 percent of its sanctioned strength of non-teaching employees!

NEHUNSA president, Dr. W. R. Synrem, recently informed Hub News that the current strength of non-teaching staff is less than 250, whereas the sanctioned posts are 1000. He mentioned that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has worked out a ratio-based formula, according to which the university should ideally have 512 non-teaching staff.

However, even going by UGC’s formula, the strength is reduced to less than half and the umber keep decreasing every month as 4-5 staff retire every month.

Emphasizing the gravity of the issue, he said, “In sections where ten people are required, currently only one or two are present.” This severe understaffing, he said, has led to delays in regular administrative tasks, affecting the overall efficiency of the university.

The situation is only exacerbated with an average of 40 to 50 staff members retiring annually, and 26 more expected to retire next year. “You can imagine how the university will function,” Synrem said, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

He said the association has repeatedly communicated these challenges to the university administration since the appointment of Prof. PS Shukla as Vice-Chancellor. Despite assurances that the issues would be addressed within six months, little progress has been made over the past three years, he added.

Given the failed promises of the past, Dr. Synrem expressed scepticism about the recent promises made by the VC, especially given his current absence from the university. “We don’t believe anything that he says or writes,” he remarked.

Prof. Shukla recently wrote to the NEHUNSA and assured to complete the recruitment process in the coming months. He also assured that the recruitment process for non-teaching staff had been delayed due to the recent disruptions.

Dr. Synrem further informed that correspondence with the Ministry of Education has yielded limited responses.

Despite the regular staff shortage, the varsity has several posts in Group C and D outsourced, with certain agencies appointed staff managing the workload, along with casual staff who are paid on daily wage basis. However, this arrangement, Dr. Synrem said does little to alleviate the proper functioning of the university as critical positions requiring specific qualifications remain unfilled.

The NEHUNSA has called for immediate recruitment to fill the vacant positions and restore the university’s operational capacity.

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