Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Student unions threaten stir on engineering course fee

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD May 8. Taking objection to the Government's decision to enhance the fee for engineering courses to Rs. 22,000, various students' organisations alleged that the Government's decision would only result in depriving professional education to students hailing from poor and middle classes.

Demanding the Government to immediately withdraw its decision and restore the fee structure implemented earlier, the students' unions have threatened to take up an agitational path if the Government fails to do so.

In protest against the Government's decision, the members affiliated to the Joint Action Committee of Students' Unions' on Thursday burnt the `effigy' of the State Government at Basheerbagh. In a press release, the JAC leaders alleged that the Government is trying to shirk from its social responsibilities on the pretext of the recent Supreme Court judgment. They demanded that the Government restore the present fee structure by withdrawing its decision or else the JAC would take up a statewide agitation.

In a separate press release, the State unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad criticised the Government for "cheating'' meritorious students by enhancing the fee for engineering courses. The ABVP demanded that students qualifying for engineering courses in all the colleges be charged fee on par with the Government and university affiliated colleges. In addition, steps should be initiated to make the admission to minority colleges through the convenor without involving the managements.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Association has suggested that the Government file a review petition in the Supreme Court as there was no clarity in the latter's judgment on the fee structure in professional colleges as a permanent measure to end the stalemate over the issue. Meanwhile, the Government should continue implementation of the current fee structure in the interests of the student community, the association president, R. Krishnaiah said.

In a memorandum submitted to the Technical Education Minister, N. Anjaneyulu, the association demanded that the Government either restore the free seat quota in professional colleges or reduce the fee to Rs. 15,000.

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