SHILLONG, JUN 17: The Jaintia Students’ Union has submitted a memorandum to Meghalaya Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai, seeking immediate intervention for the “dismantling and reconstruction” of the dilapidated District Library Auditorium in Jowai and proposing it be renamed the “Late Prof. Barrister Pakem District Library”.
The memorandum highlights the “deplorable condition” of the auditorium, which the union says affects the cultural and educational landscape of West Jaintia Hills.“
After careful assessment and numerous concerns raised by the student community and the general public, we submit the following points for your urgent consideration,” the memorandum states.
The JSU said the existing building “has outlived its structural viability” and is in a “highly dilapidated and deteriorating state”.
“The poor infrastructure, compromised roofing, and unsafe structural integrity make it entirely unsuitable and unsafe for hosting educational, cultural, or public programs. Jowai, being the headquarters of West Jaintia Hills, desperately needs a functional and safe gathering space, which the current building can no longer provide,” the union wrote.
The students’ body argued that “patchwork repairs will no longer suffice for a building in this stage of decline” and urged the Department of Arts and Culture to sanction a new facility.
“We strongly urge the Department of Arts and Culture to initiate the complete dismantling of the old structure and sanction the construction of a new, modern, state-of-the-art auditorium. A newly constructed facility will serve as a vital hub for youth development, academic seminars, and cultural preservation in the region,” the memorandum stated.
The union has proposed naming the new facility after Late Prof. Barrister Pakem, former Vice-Chancellor of NEHU.
“Late Prof. B. Pakem was a towering intellectual, a former Vice-Chancellor of NEHU, and an esteemed leader whose contributions to education and society have left an indelible mark on the state of Meghalaya, particularly the Jaintia Hills. Dedicating this institution to his memory would be a fitting tribute to his legacy and an inspiration for future generations of students,” JSU said.
By Our Reporter
