Shillong, Feb 3: Shillong MP Ricky AJ Syngkon has moved the Centre regarding the administrative and academic deficiencies at National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Shillong.
In a letter addressed to Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, on Tuesday, Synkon, drew his attention to the prevailing situation at the NIFT, which, as per the official quarterly reports submitted by the institute for the period October-December 2025, is facing serious administrative and academic challenges that are adversely affecting its overall functioning.
“The records indicate that NIFT Shillong is currently functioning without a regular, full-time Director. The absence of stable leadership at the institutional level has resulted in a lack of continuity in administrative and academic decision-making, weakened oversight, and limited capacity for long-term planning and institutional development. An institute of national importance such as NIFT requires consistent leadership to maintain academic standards and administrative efficiency, and prolonged dependence on interim arrangements is neither desirable nor sustainable.
In addition to the leadership vacuum, the administrative quarterly report reveals that several sanctioned administrative posts remain vacant. This persistent understaffing has placed excessive workload on the existing personnel and has led to delays in routine administrative processes, academic coordination, and student support services. The situation reflects a structural manpower deficit rather than a temporary shortfall, he said in the letter.
The academic vacancy report for the same period further highlights acute shortages of regular faculty across disciplines. A significant number of sanctioned teaching posts remain unfilled, compelling the institute to rely heavily on contractual or visiting faculty.
“This has direct implications for the quality of instruction, faculty-student engagement, mentoring, and the continuity of academic programmes, thereby undermining the academic environment of the institute, he said.
Taken together, the absence of a regular Director, chronic administrative understaffing, and faculty vacancies point to systemic deficiencies that are affecting both governance and academic delivery at NIFT Shillong. These issues are not isolated but interconnected, and their cumulative impact is detrimental to the interests of students, faculty, and the institution as a whole, he said.
“In view of the above, I would request the ministry to kindly examine the matter on priority and consider initiating appropriate corrective measures, including the appointment of a regular Director at NIFT Shillong and the time-bound filling of sanctioned administrative and academic posts. Strengthening the institutional capacity of NIFT Shillong is essential to ensure that it functions in line with the standards expected of a national institute and fulfils its mandate effectively, particularly in the Northeastern region”, he added.
