Telangana govt moves to clear Rs 1,200 cr dues after colleges call strike

The Telangana government assured private colleges that it would clear ₹1,200 crore in pending fee reimbursement dues after they threatened an indefinite strike. Classes remained suspended on Monday, with FATHI warning of continued protests if demands are not met.

Hyderabad: Bowing down to pressure from the private professional and degree colleges, which called for indefinite closure of institutions from September 15, the Congress government has positively agreed to release the long-pending fee reimbursement dues. However, the colleges made it clear that no classes will be conducted in any of the colleges across the State on Monday.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, IT Minister D Sridhar Babu, Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and Education department officials held a long meeting with Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Education Institutions (FATHI) representatives here on Sunday night.

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During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister, according to the private colleges, was positively inclined to clear the dues to the tune of Rs.1,200 crore for which tokens were issued by the government last year.

However, the Finance department officials sought a day’s time to collect accurate information regarding the outstanding tokens and dues for each college. The exact details, as per colleges, will be disclosed by the officials during a meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister scheduled for Monday at 4 pm.

The FATHI made it clear that the strike will continue from Tuesday as planned if the government fails to agree to its demands. “If Monday’s meeting fructifies, we will announce the withdrawal of the strike after consensus,” said the FATHI in a statement on Monday.