Telangana pvt colleges call for strike from Oct 13, FATHI slams govt over Dasara dues

Private professional colleges in Telangana, under the banner of FATHI, have announced a strike from October 13 over the release of only Rs. 200 crore in fee reimbursement dues ahead of Dasara. The institutions are demanding Rs.1,000 crore be credited by October 12, failing which they will suspend classes and launch protests.

Hyderabad: Expressing displeasure over the release of a paltry Rs. 200 crore towards fee reimbursement dues on Dasara eve, the private professional colleges have called for a strike from October 13.

The strike, including suspension of class work and protests with students, will be carried out if the government fails to credit Rs. 1,000 crore fee dues on or before October 12.

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The Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI) comprising private professional and degree colleges, took the decision during its emergency executive meeting held here on Wednesday.

Speaking to media persons, FATHI Chairman N Ramesh Babu said Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, along with Ministers D Sridhar Babu and N Uttam Kumar Reddy, had on September 16 assured the release of Rs. 600 crore fee reimbursement dues before Dasara and another Rs.600 crore before Diwali.

“After repeated follow-ups, the government released only Rs. 200 crore and colleges, which have dues to the tune of Rs. 1 crore, got only Rs. 1 lakh or Rs. 2 lakh,” he said.

As assured, the colleges demanded that a total of Rs. 1,200 crore, with pending Rs. 400 crore from the first instalment and Rs.600 crore for the second instalment, be released by October 12 not by Diwali as previously promised.

“As the government released only Rs. 200 crore as against the promise of Rs.600 crore before Dasara, we have lost faith in the government and we want Rs. 1,000 crore dues well before Diwali i.e., on or before October 12, if not we will go on strike,” he said while demanding the government also release a clear timeline for the disbursal of remaining Rs. 8,800 crore fee reimbursement dues.

“The government does not have a proper answer on the fee reimbursement dues and it is trying to skip the issue. Henceforth, we will not deal with any department but with the Chief Minister’s Office. We will seek Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s time between October 12 and 18 to clear our apprehensions,” Babu added.