ES Reporter

NIRJULI, Feb 27: The demand for a permanent Director to efficiently run the state’s premier institute, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli gained momentum with the launching of  indefinite shutdown of the institute by Student Union of NERIST (SUN) Nirjuli on Tuesday.

The dejected students are demanding appointment of regular Director to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India since last four years. In this regard many peaceful demonstrations have been staged in the past to draw attention of the Centre towards the plight of students.

The protest today brought the Institute into a state of limbo with all activities and regular classes in the campus suspended for the whole day. Faculties stayed away from their work voluntarily after protesters blocked entrances, cutting off movement of buses and all shuttle services.

Meanwhile interacting with reporters, SUN, NERIST, President, Banta Natung disclosed that the shutdown will continue until a regular director is immediately deputed to manage the administration of the institute.

He claimed that the teaching –learning process has been degrading year by year due to the absence of a head to run the institute efficiently. The student community also refused appointment of any faculty members from the institute in the post of Director.

Natung informed that in last two years, the ranking of the institute as per NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Frameworks by MHRD) has drastically fallen to lowest and is now unable to make it to top 100 due to the state of affairs facing the institute.

He also criticized the Minster of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju for failing to fulfill his promise to appoint a Director for NERIST within stipulated time.

--