Students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya staged a mass protest on Monday, voicing their frustration over inadequate basic facilities at the newly shifted permanent campus in Sohra.
Gathered in front of the Administration Block, students raised concerns about poor-quality food, unhygienic surroundings, erratic amenities, lack of gym facilities for female students, frequent disruptions in WiFi and electricity, and faulty construction that leads to water leakage during heavy rains.
A video taken by students shows water gushing out from a pipeline and even seeping from an electrical socket inside a room in the 3-Seater Boys’ Hostel. A photo also surfaced showing the lentils (Dal) served in the mess as an almost clear, yellowish liquid, while another image revealed a fly in the fish curry.
Despite previously submitting a letter to the Director highlighting these concerns, students claim they received no response, leading to their protest. They also pointed out the lack of clean drinking water and the absence of medical facilities for emergencies. A formal complaint further detailed foul-smelling water, an inadequate number of cleaning staff, and rude mess workers refusing extra food.
Students also expressed frustration over the unreliable WiFi service, which reportedly remains unavailable every Sunday and highly unstable on other days, causing disruptions to academic and research activities.
NIT Meghalaya was relocated from its temporary campus in Shillong to Sohra on January 16 this year. However, with infrastructure issues persisting, students demanded immediate action, stressing that these conditions not only hinder academics but also damage the reputation of an “Institute of National Importance.”
