The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has called for immediate changes in the recruitment policies of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), demanding greater regional representation and a fair hiring process.
On April 1, the union submitted a 10-point charter of demands to NEIGRIHMS Director, urging a suspension of ongoing recruitment until their concerns are addressed. KSU Employment Cell chairman Reuben Najiar emphasized the need to safeguard the rights of indigenous tribals in Meghalaya’s premier medical institute.
One of the key demands is the reinstatement of the upper age limit for recruitment to 35 years, reversing the recent reduction to 30 years. Najiar termed the change “flawed and illogical,” arguing that it limits workforce diversity, reduces the talent pool, and restricts experienced candidates from applying.
The union also raised concerns over gender imbalance in nursing staff, pointing out that the 2023 recruitment process saw 175 male nurses appointed against just 19 female nurses. KSU has demanded a 20:80 male-female ratio for nursing officers, similar to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Najiar further alleged that complaints have been received regarding the incompetence of some male nurses, stating that their lack of efficiency poses risks to patients.
Other major demands include:
Accepting experience certificates from all registered hospitals instead of limiting them to 50-bedded hospitals.
Conducting offline recruitment through Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) instead of online modes.
Reviewing the reservation policy to ensure fair representation of indigenous communities.
Abolishing OBC reservations in Group B and C positions, arguing that Meghalaya does not have an official OBC list.
