The RGU students were agitating in a peaceful rally against the lapse in the appointment of a regular Vice Chancellor which has not been conferred since December last.
Rono Hills
The peaceful campus of the state’s premier institution Rajiv Gandhi University ( RGU ) was overwhelmed with slogans and witty banners on Monday morning as the Students’ Union took on the usually silent streets of the varsity. The RGU students were agitating in a peaceful rally against the lapse in the appointment of a regular Vice Chancellor which has not been conferred since December last.
The Rajiv Gandhi University Students’ Union (RGUSU) and Rajiv Gandhi University Research Scholars’ Forum (RGURSF) collaborated to protest against the delayed appointment of a regular VC with other appointments stranded in an unusual spot.
The whole stretch of a Kilometre and a half resounded with slogans such as ‘We want regular VC’ and strong dissent against the Ministry of Human Resource Development connoted as ‘Nahi Chalega, Nahi Chalega, Joothe Waade Nahi Chalega’ which translates as ‘False promises will not be sold anymore’.
The protest was also aimed at pointing about the regularization of regular appointees for the office of Registrar, Finance Officer, Controller of Exam and Internal Audit Officer.
The students’ union later submitted a representation letter to the Ministry of Human Resource Development through the office of the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Mitra which was immediately faxed to the office of Joint Secretary, MHRD, New Delhi.
With interactions taking place between the union and the university administration for laying out pathways for the bringing the issue to the notice.
Members from the apex students’ body of the state AAPSU took part in the Protest Rally. General Secretary Tobom Dai said that the issue cited by the RGUSU and RGURSF concerns with the future of the university and the state as a whole. Such anomalies have been seen deteriorating other higher educational institutions of the state while drawing parallel with the episodes from the NERIST and called it a pandemic issue.
Pledging the AAPSU’s solidarity for the cause, Dai further said that the government at both state and center needs to act fast before any forms of rigorous democratic agitations takes place in the state.
Earlier, the student body from the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) agitated in a similar manner demanding a regular Director for the institution.
RGUSU President Giogi Aja informed that the concerned Ministry lacks conviction on looking at the university’s ground reality as observed from the prolonged delay. The student representative termed it as a step-fatherly treatment which is leading the university to an uncontrolled place.
RGUSU General Secretary Vikash Dada reiterated union’s stance against the negligence shown by the higher authority. He informed that the protest is carried out with a sight for the future of the university. The students have been devoid of a well-functioning institution, he added.
“Today’s rally is just the beginning; we haven’t even involved the other stakeholders of the varsity. We do not wish to ruin the ambience of this peaceful university. It is just that we need a full-fledged VC at the earliest. If the HRD Ministry fails to meet our demand we may proceed for further agitation movements, taking into confidence of all the stakeholders of the varsity” Dada told reporters here today.
Later in the evening, AAPSU GS Tobom Dai who had met the Chief Minister Pema Khandu in this connection informed over the phone that, CM khandu has taken serious note of the unfolding issue and given his assurance to take this matter with the MHRD. Khandu has also written to the HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar briefing the grievance explained by the AAPSU delegation asking the later to redress the grieviance by appointing a visionary personality as Vice Chancellor of the University, on extreme Priority.
With over 400 students and scholars participating the peaceful procession, the rally began from main gate, RGU and culminated at the Administrative block. RGURSF Chairman Margum Ado and GS Kosen Jida also briefed the gathering highlighting the issues faced due to lack of a full-fledged VC.
