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PMK launches poster campaign for cut in higher education fee

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 5. Volunteers of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) led by its founder, S. Ramadoss, today pasted posters at Chepauk here demanding that the State government take steps to reduce higher education fees. They said higher education had gone beyond the reach of the poor and middle-class families.

Posters demanding that committees "not interested in social justice" be abolished were also pasted.

Dr. Ramadoss said the programme was the first in a poster campaign launched to highlight the problems being faced by the people.

Earlier in the afternoon newspaper offices received a message that Dr. Ramadoss would launch the programme in the Chepauk area in the evening. Volunteers gathered in front of the Madras University building at the Anna Square bus stop. Later, the workers, led by A.K. Moorthy, MP, started walking on Wallajah Road. The police said no procession would be allowed. The volunteers said the posters would be stuck only on boards brought by them. Even as the police heaved a sigh of relief, Mr. Moorthy started walking with the volunteers. Meanwhile, Dr. Ramadoss arrived and told the police that no procession would be taken out. At last, the posters were pasted on a compound wall on Lock Nagar Road, abutting the Buckingham Canal.

Talking to newspersons later, Dr. Ramadoss said while Maharashtra and Karnataka had reduced higher education fees, Tamil Nadu failed to do so. Colleges levied exorbitant fees making it difficult for the poorer sections to get education. College founders who began with one institution with the least investment started more colleges in due course.

Quoting press reports, he said many of the colleges had already filled the management quota. If that was true, what was the meaning in conducting an entrance test, he asked.

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