SHILLONG:
The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), on June 6, demanded the state government to institute an inquiry into the alleged illegal functioning of the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH).
“There should be a probe into this whole affair and the best will come out if a house committee is set up to be assisted by all stakeholders so that the truth comes out as we do not want another CMJ University episode in the state,” FKJGP general secretary Eldie Newton Lyngdoh said.
The demand came on the heels of allegations that the Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong (IIPHS), which is yet to declared itself as a college or university, has offered a post graduate program in Masters of Public Health (MPH) in collaboration with the Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) in violation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.
Lyngdoh also questioned if the MPH courses being conducted by IIPH are recognised by the Medical Council of India?
The Principal Secretary in-charge Health and Family Welfare Sampath Kumar had recently said that the Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree is not granted by the Indian Institute of Public Health, Shillong (IIPHS) but by the Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU).
The students are taught by faculty from both MLCU and IIPHS. Qualified IIPHS staff are adjunct faculty of MLCU and are shown as such in the MLCU prospectus. Adjunct faculty is permitted by UGC regulations, Kumar, who is also the chairperson of the IIPH Shillong Society, had said in a rejoinder published by a Meghalaya newspaper (not The Meghalayan).
Lyngdoh however asked, “The society formed with IIPH was based on what performance made by the institute and whether the society formed was based on any expression of interest (EoI) floated by the health department? If not, why?”
The FKJGP leader also wanted to know whether the relationship between the society and the MLCU was the decision of the government of Meghalaya.
“Was there a mention of such a society to be formed when the MoU signed between the government of Meghalaya and PHFI in 2008? And was the president of PHFI a signatory to the formation of this society? What is the relationship between the managements of IIPH and MLCU?” he asked.
“If the above queries are not forthcoming from the administrative department of health and family welfare of Meghalaya then the students currently pursuing courses along with the parents have the right to be in the know,” Lyngdoh said.
Further, the FKJGP also demanded the state government to institute an inquiry into the alleged unruly behaviour by the registrar of the IIPHS with the two lady officers which include the Project Director of MACS.