SHILLONG, OCT 22: Stating that dialogue without action erodes public trust, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has asked Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to immediately deliver on the government’s year-old promise to take up NEIGRIHMS recruitment anomalies with the Centre.
In a reminder letter submitted on Thursday, KSU said its decision to suspend the indefinite sit-in at NEIGRIHMS on May 5, 2025 was based entirely on state government’s assurance, but that assurance remains on paper.
“The Union wishes to draw your kind attention to the issues raised concerning the recruitment practices at NEIGRIHMS which remain unresolved despite the assurances extended by the State Government during its intervention,” the letter said.
Recalling the agitation, KSU said, “On 1st May 2025, the KSU staged an indefinite sit-in protest at NEIGRIHMS to highlight serious concerns regarding recruitment practices, the representation of indigenous candidates, and the need to ensure adequate employment opportunities for the people of Meghalaya.”
The Union said its demands were clear – “revision of the 20:80 male-to-female nursing ratio, reconsideration of reservation provisions for indigenous tribal communities, and the conduct of recruitment examinations by NEIGRIHMS itself, alongside other related concerns.”
The protest was suspended after intervention by a delegation led by then Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh.
“The Union temporarily suspended its protest on 5th May 2025, in good faith and in consideration of the assurances conveyed by the state government,” KSU said.
The key assurance, according to KSU, was that the State would arrange a meeting with the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
“The state government would take the initiative to facilitate discussions with the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare so that the concerns raised by the KSU could be placed before the appropriate authorities at the national level,” it recalled.
KSU said it revisited the assurance in official meetings with the Government on August 26 and with the Chief Secretary on September 8, 2026, but no meeting has been facilitated yet.
“Despite the passage of considerable time, there has been no tangible progress towards resolving the issues raised,” KSU said.
The Union asserted that NEIGRIHMS, being a premier institute located in Meghalaya, cannot ignore local interests.
“Its recruitment policies and employment practices should be fair, transparent and responsive to the legitimate interests of the local population, while adhering to applicable laws, recruitment rules and constitutional principles,” it said.
In a sharp message to the state government, KSU said, “The role of the state government should not be confined to that of a mediator between the KSU and the authorities of NEIGRIHMS.”
It added, “We fully recognize that NEIGRIHMS is an institution under the administrative jurisdiction of the government of India and that the state government may not have direct authority over all aspects of its recruitment policies, but nevertheless, the limitations of direct administrative control should not prevent the state government from taking a proactive role.”
Demanding urgent action, KSU urged the CM to facilitate an early meeting with the Union Health Minister, pursue the matter substantively, formally place Meghalaya’s concerns before Delhi, seek a time-bound response from the Ministry and NEIGRIHMS, and update the Union on the timeline.
“The Union continues to value dialogue as an effective means of addressing public concerns and remains willing to engage with the Government in good faith, but assurances must be followed by tangible action if public confidence is to be maintained,” KSU said.
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