Meghalaya: Students of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have resorted to an indefinite hunger strike starting November 5, escalating their protest over unmet demands. As part of their protest, they declared a complete lockdown of the university beginning November 6.
The student body is seeking immediate action on several critical issues that have been pending for months, including the removal of the registrar and deputy registrar, the appointment of a pro Vice-Chancellor for the Tura campus, the timely conduct of PGSU elections, and the provision of basic amenities at the university.
Tensions came to a head following a meeting between the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Prabha Shankar Shukla, and Toniho Kharsati, General Secretary of the NEHU Student Union (NEHUSU). Kharsati expressed frustration after the VC showed no willingness to address the long-standing concerns raised by students in multiple memorandums. The students have been demanding action on these issues for an extended period, but say their concerns have largely gone unheeded.
The hunger strike has garnered support from various student organizations, including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit and the Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA) at the university. Their backing signals growing unrest and dissatisfaction among the wider NEHU community over the university’s handling of administrative and student issues.
Compounding the crisis, NEHU’s non-teaching staff have also gone on strike, citing unresolved grievances of their own. This has led to a broader atmosphere of discontent at the university, with multiple groups calling for a swift resolution to their issues.
Earlier in the week, the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) wrote to the Vice-Chancellor demanding the appointment of a Pro Vice-Chancellor (Pro-VC) for the university’s Tura campus, a position that has been vacant for some time. The GSU highlighted the urgency of this matter, arguing that the absence of a Pro-VC has hindered proper administration and left student issues unaddressed. The union also called for the immediate holding of PGSU elections, emphasizing that an official student body is crucial for effectively representing student concerns and facilitating communication with the administration.
In their letter to VC Shukla, the GSU stated, “We put forth our request that the post of the Pro-VC be immediately recouped with a sense of urgency and responsibility.” The demand underlines the growing dissatisfaction among students at NEHU, who are calling for timely action to address their grievances and restore normalcy to campus life.
With the university now locked down and protests escalating, all eyes will be on how the administration responds to these mounting pressures.
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