Telangana private colleges to shut indefinitely from Nov 3 over fee reimbursement dues

Private professional colleges across Telangana will shut indefinitely from November 3, demanding clearance of fee reimbursement arrears. The Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI) has called for a protest with one lakh staff on November 6

Hyderabad: Intensifying demand for the release of pending fee reimbursement arrears, the private professional colleges called for a protest with one lakh staff on November 6. Before the protest, the colleges, including engineering, pharmacy, MBA, MCA, BEd, and Nursing, will indefinitely close from November 3. The colleges urged the universities to postpone examinations under their jurisdiction.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI) Chairman N Ramesh Babu said the colleges have no option but to close down and hit the streets for their promised fee dues.

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According to him, the colleges sought Rs 1,200 crore by the Diwali festival and also suggested setting up a trust bank for the remaining amount and preparing a roadmap for paying fee dues.

“We met everyone, including Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. So far, the government has released only Rs 300 crore. We also asked that all pending dues be cleared by November 1. Instead of clearing the promised dues, the government threatened colleges with a vigilance probe,” Ramesh Babu said.

With the government ordering a vigilance inquiry, the private professional colleges increased their demand and now want to release Rs 5,000 crore, 50 per cent of the total Rs 10,000 fee reimbursement dues, immediately. “The government can conduct a vigilance probe after clearing the dues to the colleges,” said an engineering college owner.

Meanwhile, upping the ante against the government, the colleges announced a massive protest with one lakh teaching and non-teaching staff on November 6. In addition, the colleges have also decided to hold a massive public meeting with 10 lakh students on November 10 or 11. The college representatives are also planning to lay siege to the houses of MLAs and officials as part of their protest for fee dues.