Staff Reporter

Shillong, Oct 26: Students of North Eastern Hills University (NEHU) under the umbrella of North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) today stormed the Kiang Nangbah Guest House and Auditorium to fulfil their long pending demand.

The VC of NEHU along with the minister in charge of education Rakkam A Sangma was in the guest house to attend some programs when hundreds of students stormed and block the main entrance demanding the VC to come out and address the long pending demands of the students.

Earlier hundreds of students took part in the rally to demand with regard to the issues pertaining to the hostel facilities, to set up a Library for the School of Technology (SOT) and to remove Rohit Prasad from the post of Post Technical Consultant in NEHU.

After a few hours, the VC of NEHU Prof. Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla came out of the Kiang Nangbah Guest House and Auditorium where heated arguments took place between the students outside the guest house.

With regard to the appointment of Rohit Prasad from the post of Post Technical Consultant in NEHU, Prof. Shukla agreed that the appointment of the Post Technical Consultant in NEHU was not advertised as it was decided by the executive council of the university.

About the hostel facilities, the VC assured the agitating students that the Mess Committee will be constituted to address the issues relating to the food, Wi-Fi and other necessities in the Hostel.

The VC had also assured the students that all their demands would be fulfilled by the start of January 2024.

With regard to the demand to set up a library for the School of Technology (SOT), the VC claimed that this issue was discussed in the previous meeting and it was found out that the School of Technology (SOT) does not have ample of space to set up new library but he assured the students that the university will look for some other alternatives.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to chief secretaries of all the States and Union Territories (UTs) and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment seeking a report on the de-addiction centres.

The NHRC wanted to know how many de-addiction centres are presently available with the Government Sector, can private entities be allowed to set up de-addiction centres, are there any rules or regulations framed under the NDPS Act to regulate the de-addiction centres as mandated in Section 71 of NDPS Act.

It also asked as to what is the mechanism for providing training to the persons employed in such de-addiction centres; and to specify the mechanisms to regulate private de-addiction centres including charges/fees, employment of staff, counsellor, medical staff, food supplied and overall upkeep of such rehabilitation centres.

This came after the NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report of yet another death of an inmate at a private drug de-addiction centre, which is the third such incident in the recent past.

Reportedly, a 24-year-old man was beaten to death by the people running a De-addiction Centre in Chandramani area of Dehradoon, Uttarakhand on 10th April, 2023.

Prior to this, the Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of two similar incidents at De-addiction Centres in NOIDA and Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and the reports have been sought.

The Commission has observed that all three rehabilitation centres, two in UP and one in Uttarakhand were being run by private entities. It needs serious consideration as to whether the De-addiction Centres can be allowed to be operated by private entities, and if it is so, whether State(s) have ensured sufficient safety measures in place to protect the interest of the inmates with a view to achieving the desired goal.

Notices have also been issued to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Uttarakhand calling for a detailed report in the instant case of the death of an inmate at Dehradoon Rehab Centre.

The reports should include the present status of the investigation of the case and compensation and relief, if any, provided to the Next of kin of the deceased.

According to the media report, carried on 13th April, 2023, the patients of the Dehradoon De-addiction Centre, have said that their beatings were frequent and routine, as were hunger and lack of hygiene. No doctor or counsellor ever visited the centre.