College managements have threatened to close down engineering and other professional colleges from January 21 if the Government fails to release the fee reimbursement dues before January 20.
The Consortium of Engineering and Professional Colleges Managements Association (CEPCMA), which claims support of 530 engineering colleges and other professional colleges, criticised the Government for failing to release the funds even after six months of academic year.
‘Not a rupee release’
“Not a single rupee has been released for this year out of the Rs. 3,250 crores it owed to the colleges,” said the CEPCMA Chairman, N. Ramesh; president, M. Krishna Rao; working president, Pradeep and secretary, K.V.K. Rao after a meeting of the CEPCMA general body on Sunday.
“Several colleges are not able to pay even salaries to the teachers due to the delay and it if affecting the academics,” they said. Mr. Ramesh said that arrears of about Rs. 300 crores of 2011-12 academic year are also yet to be released. He also alleged that the Government is deliberately delaying the release of funds citing verification of students’ claims.
“Verification of senior students was done last year itself so where is the need for delaying their funds? Even the maintenance charges for students have not been released.”
The CEPCMA has also asked the parents to put pressure on the Government for early release of funds as their wards’ education would suffer due to Government’s callousness. However, Mr. Ramesh said special classes would be conducted for students who have paid the fee. ‘We will also put pressure on students to pay the fee.”
About six lakh engineering students, one lakh pharmacy students, 1.5 lakh MBA and MCA students, 80,000 B.Ed students avail the fee reimbursement scheme apart from students of post graduate courses.
