One year on, Meghalaya House in Bengaluru still non-functional; awaits renovation, staff appointment
Bengaluru: A year after the Meghalaya government announced that the much-awaited Meghalaya House in Bengaluru would be made functional by December 2025, the facility remains non-operational, with renovation work, furnishing, and appointment of officials yet to be completed.
In July last year, Rakkam A. Sangma, who also holds the General Administration Department (GAD) portfolio, had confirmed that both land and building for the Meghalaya House in Karnataka’s capital had been acquired. “We have paid, we have possessed the building… maximum before December we will start,” he had said during a media briefing.
According to Sangma, all financial procedures had been finalised, and only furnishing and final administrative processes remained. “Once furnishing is done and other requirements are fulfilled, we will start operations. In the next three to four months, Meghalaya House in Bengaluru will be ready,” he had added.
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The announcement had come days after Vartha Bharati reported on the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Bengaluru unit urging the Meghalaya government to expedite the project.
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However, despite these assurances, no visible progress has been made on the ground. Renovation, furnishing, and appointment of officials remain pending, according to Donboklang Nongphud, President of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Bengaluru unit who spoke to Vartha Bharati.
“We don’t see any updates after the announcement of the December deadline. They had promised last year that it would be inaugurated in December, but there has been no update since then,” Nongphud said.
He further stated that during a visit to Bengaluru in November, a Meghalaya minister had indicated that the facility might be inaugurated in February. “Even after that, we have not seen any update,” he said.
Nongphud said he had contacted officials from the GAD, who cited the same reasons as earlier. “They said that the officer-in-charge for the Meghalaya House in Bengaluru has still not been appointed. Staff vacancies have been released, but there is no concrete progress,” he added.
Referring to the building reportedly purchased in Shivajinagar around June or July last year, Nongphud said KSU members had visited the site multiple times. “It is still the same. No work has been done. Nothing has changed,” he said.
He emphasised the urgency of the project, stating that the KSU Bengaluru unit often steps in to assist people from Meghalaya facing difficulties in the city. “If there is an official Meghalaya House, government officials can directly handle issues and coordinate better. It will help our people,” he said.
When contacted, officials from the Meghalaya General Administration Department (GAD) said they did not have immediate information regarding the current status of the project and would get back with a clarification.
Cabinet Minister and In-charge of the General Administration Department, Sosthenes Sohtun said the matter was not directly under his department.
“The tender has been closed. I will have to clarify with the PWD Buildings Department regarding the progress,” he said.
On being asked about the delay in appointing an officer and completing the project, he said, “right now the building has not been renovated. I will have to clarify this with the designated department.”
When asked whether the project would be completed soon, he said, “It is not under our department. I will clarify and get back.”
Attempts to contact the PWD Buildings Department of the Meghalaya government for a response were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Donald V. Thabah, General Secretary of KSU’s Central Executive Council, said the KSU Central Executive Council would soon take up the matter with the authorities.
ALSO READ: Bengaluru: Khasi Students’ Union urges Meghalaya government to expedite state house project
“The President of the KSU Bengaluru unit has contacted me. Next week, we are going to meet the concerned bureaucrat to understand why no steps have been taken to make the Meghalaya House operational,” he said.
He added that a delegation would be sent to seek clarity. “As per the information we have received, nothing is being undertaken by the government to make it operational. We want to know the reason for the delay,” he said.
Thabah stressed the importance of the facility, noting that a large number of people from Meghalaya live in Karnataka for education and employment.
“Meghalaya House in Bengaluru is of utmost need. If it is functional, it will help in coordination between our people and the Meghalaya government, and also with the Karnataka government,” he said.
He also pointed to instances of discrimination and abuse faced by people from the Northeast. “If Meghalaya House is present, it will be very helpful in addressing such issues,” he added.
Questioning the delay, Thabah said, “If the government wants to do anything, it can do it.”
KSU urges crackdown on fraudulent agents, asks students to verify before admissions and jobs
Meanwhile, the KSU also reiterated concerns over fraudulent education and job placement agencies targeting students from Meghalaya.
Thabah said the union has encountered such cases for over a decade. “Some agencies are genuine, but many are bogus. Students are easily duped by false promises of placements and education,” he said.
He urged students and parents to verify institutions before enrolling. “They should check with the education department or approach the Khasi Students’ Union. We can coordinate with our Bengaluru unit and verify whether an institution is genuine,” he said.
Thabah said the union had written multiple times to the Meghalaya government seeking regulation of such agencies. “All agencies involved in job and education placement should be registered and verified by the government. But we have not seen any concrete action so far,” he said.
He added that the union has shut down several fraudulent agencies in the past, but noted that many operate without detection. “By the time complaints reach us, the agencies have already disappeared,” he said.
Speaking about similar concerns, Don Nongphud said many agents in Meghalaya facilitate admissions without proper knowledge of institutions. “They are only interested in commission. They do not care about the future of students,” he said, urging the government to take responsibility.
He also highlighted job-related frauds, stating that many individuals come to Bengaluru based on promises of salaries ranging from Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000 but end up being cheated. “People do not verify companies before coming here. They rely on agents or word of mouth and get defrauded,” he said.
This correspondent also attempted to contact Meghalaya’s Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui for a response. However, he was unavailable for comment and is yet to respond to the message.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
