: As the delay in tuition fee payments took political colours and college managements also threatened to close down colleges, the Telangana government on Wednesday released Rs. 824 crore arrears clearing dues for all the courses till the academic year 2013-14.
However, the government is yet to release the arrears to the tune of around Rs. 2,500 crore meant for the academic year 2014-15. In the released funds, the tuition fee will be reimbursed to the colleges while the maintenance fee will be deposited in the students’ bank accounts after following the due procedure.
Funds released
The orders were issued separately releasing funds for Backward Class students, minority students and Economically Backward class students. Rs. 434.14 crore was released towards scholarships of backward classes for tuition fee and another Rs. 159.16 crore as maintenance fee given to students.
For Economically Backward Class students, Rs. 100.65 crore was released under tuition fee and Rs. 9.06 crore as maintenance fee. Another Rs. 121 crore was released to cover the expenses of minority community students under tuition fee and maintenance fee.
The delay in release of funds was attributed to several factors including the new norms proposed by the government.
The Chief Minister changed the fee reimbursement scheme’s name as Financial Assistance to Students of Telangana (FAST) and wanted to extend the benefit only to “Telangana natives”.
Later, the idea was dropped and the government decided to extend the scheme to all eligible candidates irrespective of their place of nativity. Delay in division of employees and shortage of bureaucrats also contributed to the delay, it is said.
The government’s tough stand on the quality of technical education leading to denial of permission for admissions in 174 colleges was another reason for the delay.
Meanwhile, the college managements thanked the government for “understanding their plight” and releasing funds. It also requested to expedite the process of clearing the remaining dues as the academic year was coming to an end.
College managements thank the government for “understanding their plight” and releasing funds
