Guwahati: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has warned that it may consider further action if the Meghalaya government fails to address its concerns, while expressing hope that the ongoing inquiry into the Shree Cement issue will lead to a satisfactory outcome.
A delegation of the union met Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday to discuss five issues it has been pursuing with the state government since August 3.
Speaking to reporters, KSU general secretary Reuben Najiar said the union had taken note of the formation of a fact-finding committee to examine issues surrounding the public hearing related to Shree Cement. He also referred to the maintenance of the status quo, with further work reportedly suspended for the time being.
However, Najiar questioned why residents and workers affected by the issue in East Jaintia Hills should have to travel to Shillong to present their grievances before the committee.
The union has urged the committee to visit the affected area, arguing that an on-site assessment would help it understand the concerns of local residents, including allegations that large corporate entities were taking over their land.
The KSU also questioned the legality of the public hearing, alleging that it had not been conducted in accordance with established procedures. It further raised concerns about whether the process had been carried out with improper intentions.
Najiar said the union was awaiting the findings of the inquiry but stressed that the government must follow its assurances with timely and concrete action.
On recruitment reforms, the KSU welcomed the state government’s decision to discontinue personal interviews for Group C posts from January 1, 2027, describing the move as an initial step towards making government recruitment fairer and more transparent.
However, Najiar maintained that the demand was not new, pointing out that the Government of India had issued an order in 2016 calling for interviews to be discontinued for such posts. He said Meghalaya should implement the directive.
The KSU general secretary also referred to allegations that candidates were being asked to pay money to secure contractual jobs. He clarified, however, that the union did not have evidence to substantiate these claims.
Najiar said the KSU had already submitted recommendations for reforms in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE). He urged the government to implement the proposals in full.
According to the union, the suggested changes are intended to strengthen transparency and fairness in recruitment and ensure that candidates are selected on merit.
The KSU said it would continue to press the government on the issues and warned that it could consider further steps if its concerns remained unresolved.