KSU demands appointment of Prof Sungoh as new VC of NEHU

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 14, 2021

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) has sought the intervention of the Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank for appointment of Prof Sherwin May Sungoh as the new Vice Chancellor of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).

“(We) would humbly like to opine the name of Prof Sherwin May Sungoh as the next Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University who is the only candidate who has been shortlisted for the post of VC from the University,”KSU Education Cell said in its letter to Pokhriyal on Thursday.

Sungoh from the Department of Education, NEHU is one among the five candidates shortlisted for the post of VC.

The other candidates included Prof Santishree Pandit, Savitribai Phule, Pune University, Dr Pratibha Shankar Shukla, GB Pan University of Agriculture and Technology Uttarakhand, Prof Sushil Kumar Tomar, Punjab University and Prof Kshiti Bhusan Das, Pro VC, IGNOU Utkal University.

“The reason being so is that the Union is of the opinion that culture and ethos of the region (Meghalaya) should be one of the key considerations in the selection of the new Vice Chancellor. She is a person with a background in education and being an experienced educationist yourself, you are very much aware of the challenges the next Vice Chancellor ought to meet. It is of utmost importance that the local ethos and sentiments be carefully considered considering the adverse situation that has arisen in the past five years,” it said.

The union also continued, “Thus, the Union humbly appeals to appoint at this juncture of the turbulent history of the University a lady since it is natural that as a woman, a mother, an educationist is expected to fulfill the much needed healing touch to the University.”

On the other hand, the KSU said that over the 5 years as Prof SK Srivastava has taken charge as the Vice Chancellor of the University, the growth and progress of the University has been deteriorating and declining rapidly which is evident from the fact that the ranking of the University has slipped and fallen from rank of 16 to a lowly position of below 50 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework.

It said over the years there has been many protest and agitations against Prof Srivastava from the students, the teachers, the staffs and employees of the University to express their anger and resentment in his incompetence and incapability as a Vice Chancellor to resolve over various matters which has been put forward to him.

Allegations have also been made against him for mismanagement of public resources, misguided policies, and lack of academic conferences which is essential in academics perception. He also led to a creation of a caucus of a few favored teachers and staffs who enjoy the patronage of the highest office of NEHU creating a negative atmosphere of nepotism and favoritism in the University.

Thus, it is going to be an absolute herculean task for the next Vice Chancellor of the University to undo all the wrongs that the present Vice Chancellor of the University has made and to bring the University back right on track.

“Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the need of the hour of the University is that the next Vice Chancellor should be a person capable enough of leading and restoring the University academics advancement and creating an ambience which is passive and progressive for the growth of the University,” the union asserted.