Telangana Students’ JAC Stages Unique 'Book-Reading' Protest Demanding ₹8,000-Crore Fee Dues Release
The event was attended by government adviser V. Hanumantha Rao, former minister Srinivas Goud and national convener Gujja Krishna,
Hyderabad:Students under the banner of the Telangana Students’ Joint Action Committee (JAC), led by Telangana Students’ JAC chairman Vemula Ramakrishna, staged a protest by reading books while demanding the release of fee reimbursement dues and the withdrawal of the Revenue Recovery Act against students. The event was attended by government adviser V. Hanumantha Rao, former minister Srinivas Goud and national convener Gujja Krishna,
Addressing the gathering, Hanumantha Rao said the fee reimbursement scheme should not be discontinued and assured students that the issue would be discussed with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Srinivas Goud said poor students were being forced to surrender college seats because they could not afford to pay fees. Ramakrishna accused the government of creating confusion by issuing repeated statements and GOs on fee reimbursement. He demanded that the government continue the scheme under the previous system, immediately release the ₹8,000 crore in pending dues, convene an all-party meeting on the education sector and withdraw the Revenue Recovery Act against students.
The JAC questioned why students were being subjected to the Revenue Recovery Act, which it said was intended for recovering loans from defaulters, and sought clarity from the government as admission counselling continued without certainty over fee reimbursement. It alleged that colleges were insisting students pay fees upfront, forcing many from economically weaker sections to give up admissions and higher education.
R. Krishnaiah Launches Satyagraha Demanding Release of ₹8,000-Crore Fee Reimbursement Dues
Hyderabad:BC Welfare Association president R. Krishnaiah launched a satyagraha at Indira Park protesting against delays in government payments which he said were affecting nearly 14 lakh students across Telangana. Krishnaiah demanded the immediate release of ₹8,000 crore in fee reimbursement dues, withdrawal of Government Order (GO) No. 9 that allows direct transfer of the fee amount to students, and continuation of the previous scheme. The protest drew support from 96 BC caste associations, 40 BC organisations, students and leaders including former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya.
Police Stop Left-Wing Student Groups' 'Chalo Secretariat' March; Leaders Detained After Scuffle
Hyderabad:Members of the Left wing students organisations attempted a ‘Chalo Secretariat’ march. Police stopped the protesters near the Secretariat by erecting barricades, leading to a scuffle before several student leaders were detained and shifted to different police stations. The protest involved students from the PDSU, AIFDS, (AISB), SFI, AISF, and the AIPSU.
Palle Murali of AIFDS alleged that student leaders were placed under preventive detention in several districts ahead of the protest, but many managed to reach Hyderabad and participate in the march. Bonagiri Madhukar of PDSU claimed that students sustained minor injuries during the scuffle with the police.
Addressing the gathering, Adepu Ravi Kumar of AIPSU warned of intensified statewide protests if the issue remained unresolved.
ABVP Claims Statewide College Bandh Success, Demands Release of ₹12,000-Crore Fee Dues
Hyderabad:The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) onTuesday claimed success of its statewide college bandh against the alleged delay in releasing fee reimbursement and scholarship dues, and urged the government to immediately clear the arrears.
Addressing the media, ABVP national executive member Jeevan said that around 20 lakh students from the SC, ST, BC, economically backward class (EBC) and minority communities depended on fee reimbursement scheme for higher education. He claimed that pending dues had mounted to ₹12,000 crore, forcing students to drop out, struggle to obtain certificates and seek admissions in neighbouring states.
The ABVP demanded that the government continue the fee reimbursement scheme under the previous system, release all pending reimbursements and scholarships, and stop any move to dilute the scheme. The organisation also alleged that students protesting over the issue were facing police action and warned of a statewide agitation if the government failed to address their demands.