ith more than 1,000 students getting admitted in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) every year, perhaps Telugus will be the most hit with the Union Government’s decision to hike the fee in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from Rs. 90,000 to Rs. two lakh per annum.
The solace, however, is the exemption of tuition fee for SC and ST students, physically challenged and students whose parents earn less than Rs. one lakh per annum. The Government also announced 66 per cent fee waiver for students whose parents’ income is less than Rs. five lakh irrespective of the social category.
Last year, around 1,100 students from the two Telugu States secured admissions though around 1,600 got seat securing ranks.
The hike is not huge given the concessions given to various social and economically backward groups and also to what the deemed universities and some top private institutions charge. A section of teachers argued that hike was reasonable for the quality of education dished out and the exposure students acquire. “Two lakh is not a bad idea, but the question is whether a Government institution can charge such huge sum,” says M. Srikanth, Chairman of Delta Academy that trains IIT aspirants.
Given his interactions with parents every year, he says parents are willing to spend money for quality education, and more so for IIT brand. In fact, they spend huge sums for IIT coaching itself. “Nearly 50 per cent students will be unaffected anyway by the concessions announced,” he reminds.
Kondal Rao, senior IIT trainer with Narayana IIT Academy says initial opposition is expected but reminds that same parents are willing to shell out Rs. two lakh to four lakh in private and deemed universities. “Fee in sought-after institutions like BITS Pilani, Gitam University, SRM, VIT, IIIT or ICFAI ranges between Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. four lakh and parents don’t complain.”
“Among the 1,000-odd from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who secure IIT admissions nearly 200 belong to SC and ST categories while around 300 come from the Other Backward Class (OBC). Among the remaining 500-odd around 100 may not be financially strong. So hike may not really burden majority parents given the concessions,” says an IIT trainer.
B.V. Ramana Prasad, Associate Professor in Government Polytechnic, Vikarabad justifies the hike arguing parents pay similar amount in several schools and colleges. “This is IIT education.” Some parents like Chandrasekhar, a software consultant says the interest-free loan should be picked up by the students rather than burdening their parents.
Fee in institutes like BITS Pilani, VIT, IIIT or ICFAI ranges between Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 4 lakh.
Kondal Raosenior IIT trainer
