As the hunger strike by protesting students of Meghalaya’s North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) entered its 15th day on November 19, Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Nirmalendu Saha urged the students to call off their protest, highlighting the detrimental effects on their health and well-being. The students, who have been agitating for over two weeks, are demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Prabha Shankar Shukla, along with the Registrar, Deputy Registrar, and other university officials.
In a heartfelt appeal, Prof. Saha assured the students that the administration is committed to safeguarding their education and welfare. “All decisions made during this phase are in the best interests of the students,” he stated in an official statement. He also emphasized that medical teams are closely monitoring the health of the students involved in the hunger strike.
Professor Saha, who assumed charge as Acting VC after Professor Shukla took a 14-day leave, has been engaging with various university bodies, including the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), and NEHU Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), in an effort to resolve the crisis. Despite his efforts, the hunger strike continued as the tensions between the administration and students remain high.
