TG private colleges to intensify protest over delay in fee reimbursement, call Sept 15 ‘Black Day’

Private professional colleges in Telangana will shut indefinitely from September 15 over Rs 8,000 crore fee reimbursement arrears. They plan to mark Engineers’ Day as ‘Black Day’. Private degree colleges will also join the shutdown from September 16

Hyderabad: The private professional colleges, which have called for indefinite closure of their institutions from September 15 over inordinate delay in release of fee reimbursement dues by the State government, are set to intensify their protest.

The Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Education (FATHI), comprising private engineering, pharmacy, MBA, MCA and BEd colleges among others, has decided to chalk out an action plan and called for a general body meeting on Sunday.

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“As decided, we will be going ahead with indefinite closure of the institutions. We have called the meeting to prepare an action plan and further step up pressure on the government so that at least it releases some part of the dues for which tokens are generated,” said a private college owner.

Apart from closure, the private engineering colleges have resolved to observe September 15, National Engineers’ Day, as ‘Black Day’.

The managements have been demanding the State government release the pending fee reimbursement arrears to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore. They sought immediate release of Rs 1,200 crore fee reimbursement dues pertaining to already generated tokens for which budget was allotted.

Due to delays, the colleges have not been able to pay faculty and staff salaries for several months and many faculty members are unable to meet even their basic daily needs, forcing them to stop attending duties.

The academic activities have already been disrupted, causing hardship to students, the colleges said.

Joining the private professional colleges, the private degree colleges called for indefinite closure of their institutions from September 16. The degree colleges have long been demanding the government release Rs 1,800 crore dues. The managements immediately wanted the government to release Rs 750 crore for which tokens were already generated.