SHILLONG, OCT 26:The Khasi Students’ Union on Monday said the state government has assured to start the entry facilitation centre at Umling in Ri-Bhoi soon and to take up its demand for 80:20 local quota in North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institution of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) with the Centre.
KSU general secretary Ruben Naijar told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma that the union pressed five demands raised since August 3 – scrapping of Shree Cement project in East Jaintia Hills, implementation of Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), reforms in NEIGRIHMS, transparency in recruitment and strengthening of Migrant Workmen Act.
Naijar said NEIGRIHMS is the most immediate issue with its Governing Council meeting slated for Tuesday.
“We have seen that there is a Governing Council tomorrow which the Union Minister will be attending through VC. Various issues which we have been demanding regarding 80:20 ratio, recruitment through NORCET will be addressed,” he said.
KSU has sought state government representation in the Council and has written to Tura MP Saleng Sangma, who is a member, and to the health department officials attending the meeting.
“NEIGRIHMS has assured us that they will place our issues before the Governing Council. We have seen the agenda list and all issues we mentioned are there,” Naijar said.
He said the chief minister assured to convene a meeting with the Union Ministry.
“This issue has been there since 2025. On May 1 we protested in NEIGRIHMS and on intervention of state government we withdrew agitation after assurance that they will initiate a meeting with Union Ministry. Since NEIGRIHMS is a central institute, these issues need to be addressed with the Centre. The chief minister said he will convene a meeting and put these issues before the Union Health Minister,” Naijar said.
On MRSSA, Naijar said despite the 2016 Act, there has been no significant change on ground while the influx grows.
“Every passing day we have seen an influx growing. Our members in different circles and districts have been nabbing people who have crossed the border from Bangladesh and different states. With the present situation in West Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, Meghalaya has become a prime hub where unidentified people are creeping into our state as we don’t have proper mechanism to check them,” he said.
“Although there are Dorbar Shnongs, these people slip through because there are people facilitating them, giving them documents. MRSSA if implemented properly can curb this problem and also curb drugs problem. Drugs are not manufactured in Meghalaya, they come from different states and countries. If we have checkpoints in each district, drug trafficking can be curbed,” he said.
He said Ri-Bhoi district administration will give a presentation with the DPR for Umling centre and an inspection will be held soon.
“District Task Force has already been formed but till date there has been no committee meeting, no data collected. We want MRSSA to be implemented to the fullest. Chief minister assured they are taking one step at a time, first Umling then other districts like Thlabari, Ratacherra and Garo Hills,” Naijar said.
On migrant workers law, he said, “People who are coming and increasing influx are coming as migrant labourers, no documentation. Present Act is very weak, so most criminals who have cases in other states take shelter here. That is why we wanted more comprehensive, stronger Act. Since 2024 we have been fighting, it has been amended, we are just waiting for official notification.”
On recruitment, Naijar welcomed abolition of personal interview for Grade C posts from January 1, 2027.
“This is already an order given by the Government of India since 2016, it is just for the state to implement. Reason they are not implementing it is because they don’t want transparency. There are allegations that people applying even for contractual nurses have to pay money. To a certain extent we know such things take place but we don’t have evidence. These will continue until there is a proper mechanism to stop corrupt practices,” he said.
He said KSU has submitted reform recommendations for MPSC and DSC.
On Shree Cement, he said the status quo is maintained and a fact-finding committee has been instituted.
“We asked government that since committee is calling all locals of East Jaintia Hills to Shillong, some from economically weaker sections, committee should go to the area and see ground reality, how people are losing lands to big corporates, and how public hearing was done not according to law with mala fide intention. It is on track, in the coming days we will see a fruitful outcome,” Naijar said.
He added, “Whenever we meet the government, assurances are given but it takes a lot of time. We will wait and see matters become fruitful and if not, we will take a different course of action.”
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