The Hindu : Front Page : Fee bonanza fails to benefit colleges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 12, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Fee bonanza fails to benefit colleges

HYDERABAD: Professional colleges are facing a severe cash crunch in the State affecting academic activity, as the government continues to delay the release of the tuition fee meant for Backward Class students, though it would lose no opportunity to publicise the social welfare measure at any given opportunity.

Of the 520-odd engineering colleges, 400-odd MBA and MCA colleges and 380 B.Ed colleges, nearly 80 per cent students have claimed the benefit of fee reimbursement. Among these, a majority are BC students whose parental annual income is below Rs. 1 lakh. “Admissions were completed four months ago but 95 per cent of the colleges did not receive 98 per cent of the money,” said the correspondent of an engineering college.

Academic activity hit

“It has affected the academic functioning and managements are feeling the heat. We could provide January salaries with difficulty,” he said adding that, however, government never leaves an opportunity to highlight the bonanza to the student community. The government has been claiming that it had taken the burden of Rs. 1,200 crore fee reimbursement despite financial constraints.

Earlier, the admitted candidates used to pay the fee at the counselling centres which was later transferred to the colleges concerned within a month.

This time only the open category candidates have paid and nearly 85 per cent of BC, SC and ST students claimed fee reimbursement, which means colleges got that much less money.

College managements say the number of students benefiting from the scheme range from 60 to 80 per cent in every college. With the fee being around Rs. 30,500 for engineering one can imagine the quantum of money. Senior students also refused to pay after the government agreed to reimburse their fee.

After colleges raised a hue and cry a committee of senior officials was constituted to exclusively deal with reimbursement but nothing moved. “The government should remember that 95 per cent of colleges depend on students’ fees for paying salaries and running expenditure,” says a correspondent.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page