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Telangana's Education Crisis: Why 2,000 Colleges Remain Closed Over Fees

The Telangana government has formed a special committee to tackle the financial crisis in fee reimbursement schemes. This comes as 2,000 private professional colleges remain closed for the second day protesting unpaid dues totaling Rs 10,000 crore. The committee includes government officials, FATHI representatives and academic experts who will study sustainable funding models. They have three months to submit recommendations for resolving this education funding emergency.

Key Points: Telangana Forms Committee for Fee Reimbursement Fund Mobilisation

  • Committee to study sustainable fee reimbursement through Trust Bank
  • Panel includes officials, FATHI representatives and academic experts
  • 2,000 professional colleges closed indefinitely over payment delays
  • Government promised Rs 1,200 crore but released only Rs 300 crore
  • Committee must submit report within three months for action
  • Colleges unable to operate due to non-payment of dues
2 min read

Telangana constitutes committee to mobilise funds for fee-reimbursement scheme

Telangana establishes committee to address Rs 10,000 crore fee reimbursement dues as 2,000 private colleges remain shut in protest over unpaid funds.

"The total arrears under the fee reimbursement scheme are to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore. - FATHI"

Hyderabad, Nov 4

The Telangana government on Tuesday constituted a committee for the mobilisation of finances for the fee-reimbursement scheme as the private professional colleges across Telangana remained closed for the second day to demand the release of pending dues.

The committee, comprising officials and representatives from the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI), will study a sustainable free reimbursement scheme through the Trust Bank.

According to the GO, the committee has been constituted as a follow-up to certain suggestions made during the talks between Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and FATHI to improve the higher education system, mobilise finances for free reimbursement schemes and set up a dedicated institutional mechanism.

The panel will be headed by the Special Chief Secretary, Welfare, with the Principal Secretary, Finance as vice-chairman. Secretaries of Education, Scheduled Caste Development, Backward Classes Welfare, and Tribal Welfare departments, the chairman of the State Council of Higher Education and the Commissioner, Scheduled Caste Development are members. Academicians Prof Kancha Ilaiah and Prof Kodandaram have also been named as members. Three representatives of FATHI will also be members of the committee.

According to the Government Order issued by the Chief Secretary, the committee will study a sustainable free reimbursement scheme through the Trust Bank, suggest a transparent and sustainable framework to rationalise the fee reimbursement policy, and examine and give suitable suggestions for improving the higher education system.

The committee will hold deliberations, examine suggestions and proposals, and submit a report to the government within a period of three months for taking further necessary action.

On a call given by FATHI, around 2,000 professional colleges, including engineering, pharmacy, MBA, MCA, B.Ed and nursing institutions, launched an indefinite shutdown on Monday. The managements of the colleges said they were unable to run their institutions due to non-payment of dues.

According to FATHI, the total arrears under the fee reimbursement scheme are to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore. Its leaders said that during the talks held in September, the government had promised to release Rs 1,200 crore in dues before Diwali, but only Rs 300 crore has been disbursed so far.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Rs 10,000 crore pending dues? That's shocking! No wonder colleges are protesting. The government needs to be more transparent about where the funds are going. Students are suffering because of this delay.
A
Arjun K
Good to see Prof Kancha Ilaiah and Prof Kodandaram on the committee. They understand ground realities. Hope they can create a system that benefits both students and institutions. Education shouldn't become a political football.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the initiative, forming committees often feels like delaying tactics. Promised Rs 1,200 crore before Diwali but released only Rs 300 crore? This affects the credibility of the government's commitments.
K
Karthik V
The Trust Bank model could be a game-changer if implemented properly. Many states struggle with fee reimbursement schemes. If Telangana can crack this, it could become a model for others. All the best to the committee! 👍
M
Meera T
My brother's engineering college is among those closed. It's heartbreaking to see students caught between government delays and college protests. Hope the 3-month deadline is actually met this time.

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