Prakash Javadekar, Union Human Resource Development Minister has assured the students of North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) that an appointment order for the post of permanent director will be issued by Monday.
Speaking to Education Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Honchung Ngandam, over telephone, Javadekar assured him of fast action over the issue.
The students’ agitation on the campus entered its fifth day on Saturday. As declared by NERIST (SUN) Students’ Union President Banta Natung, the students would not stop protesting until they are given definitive proof regarding the new appointment of Director of the institute.
Brig (Retired) BD Mishra has also been reported to have spoken to Javadekar in an attempt to bring the students’ agitation to an end.
“The students have been protesting due to the degrading academic conditions of the institute. After the departure of the last director Deepankar Pal, the ranking for NERIST has slipped from top 20 to below 100. It has become a do or die situation.” Natung said in a statement to the media.
NERIST was set up in 1984 in Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh to keep up with the technological demands of NE.
It has been facing an acute problem of faculty retention and non-payment of salaries to the staff.