Students Express Concern Over Fee Reimbursement Norms
The student organisations also pointed to pending fee reimbursement and scholarship arrears, claiming that dues running into thousands of crores remain unpaid
Hyderabad: Questions over Telangana’s revised fee reimbursement guidelines have triggered criticism from student organisations, which argue that the changes could shift the burden of fee payments onto students instead of the government.
“If a student fails to transfer the amount within the stipulated period because of banking issues, server problems or other unavoidable reasons, why should the student face action?” Mallika Yemeni, a student representative, asked while criticising the new rules.
They also questioned whether beneficiaries of a welfare scheme should face the prospect of legal recovery for delays in fee payments.
“Fee reimbursement is not charity. It is our right,” said Vemula Ramamkrishna, a BC Students Association member.
Student groups also expressed concern that unresolved fee payments could result in colleges withholding certificates, restricting examination access or creating hurdles for students seeking jobs and higher education opportunities.
Another demand relates to the annual family income limit of `2.5 lakh for eligibility. “With rising living costs, the ceiling should be increased to at least `5 lakh so that more low and middle-income students remain eligible for support,” one of the representatives from SFI told Deccan Chronicle.
The student organisations also pointed to pending fee reimbursement and scholarship arrears, claiming that dues running into thousands of crores remain unpaid. They called for the immediate release of pending funds and the withdrawal of provisions that allow recovery from students.
Protesters demanded the immediate release of what they claimed were `10,000 crore in pending fee reimbursement and scholarship dues, arguing that delays were already affecting students’ academic and career prospects.
The student leaders alleged that pending dues had led to some colleges withholding certificates, causing students to miss employment opportunities. They warned that if the government failed to address the concerns and clear the arrears, the student organisations would unite to launch statewide protests involving what they claimed were nearly 14 lakh students across Telangana.