SFI Telangana protests seeking appointment of Education Minister, pending issues

SFI Telangana president, RL Murthy lambasted the Congress government over its indifferent and lackadaisical approach in resolving the issues in the education sector, which was in crisis

Hyderabad: Demanding that the Congress government appoint Education Minister and resolve pending issues including fee reimbursement arrears, the Students Federation of India (SFI) Telangana held a ‘Vidyarthi Mahagarjana’ at Dharna Chowk here on Friday.

The student organisation has called for state-wide demonstrations in protest against arrest of its leaders during a rally on Friday.

The SFI activists along with a large number of students in unison demanded the government to resolve pending issues in the welfare hostel and residential educational institutions. They also wanted the mess and cosmetic charges enhancement in line with the increased prices.

The activists sought construction of permanent buildings for the welfare residential schools and colleges, which were functioning from the rented premises.

The SFI demanded the government to immediately disburse fee reimbursement arrears to the tune of Rs.8,252 crore over the last several years, causing significant hardships for students.

Appointment of regular vice chancellors to State universities, which have been working with senior bureaucrats as in-charge VCs, was also demanded.

SFI Telangana president, RL Murthy lambasted the Congress government over its indifferent and lackadaisical approach in resolving the issues in the education sector, which was in crisis.

The Congress party, which came to power assuring people’s rule in the State, has not resolved issues in the education sector even after eight months into formation of the government, he said, adding that the government was conspiring to shut down 1,864 government schools across the State.

Murthy accused the government of not allocating enough funds for the education sector and said the Congress party’s assurance of bringing in regulation to curb corporate fee loot remained just an assurance, giving a scope of corporate schools and colleges to charge lakhs as tuition fee.

Meanwhile, SFI activists along with students who tried to march towards the Secretariat from Dharna Chowk were arrested by the police.

SFI Telangana secretary T Nagaraju said several activists and students were injured in the police action and questioned the Congress government whether this was people’s rule.