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The State government, in wake of the persistent criticism for non-payment of Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) dues to private colleges, has constituted a committee for mobilisation of finances to resolve the issue. The committee will also comprise members from the protesting group — the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI). The government’s order to constitute the committee was dated October 28, around the time FATHI was consulting senior government leaders, serving formal notice to shut down colleges, meeting student union leaders, and convened its general body meet. The order was released to the media only on Tuesday (November 04). Special Chief Secretary (Welfare) as the chairman and Principal Secretary (Finance) as the vice chairman, the committee will have up to 13 members, including secretaries in the departments of Education, SC development, BC Welfare, Minority Welfare, Chairman of the Council of Higher Education, Commissioner of SC development department, recently-suspended MLC M. Kodandaram, writer-activist Kancha Ilaiah, and three members from FATHI. In addition to mobilising finances, the committee was mandated to “study self-sustainable RTF scheme through Trust Bank, deliberate on constructive and robust inputs to develop a transparent and sustainable framework for rationalisation of fee reimbursement policy, and give suitable suggestions for improving higher education system.” As per the order, the committee must submit a report to the government within a period of three months to take suitable action. ‘Committee means govt shirking responsibility’ According to Students’ Federation of India (Telangana), the government announcing a committee now to deliberate on a long pending issue, that was persistently being voiced by colleges and student representatives, amounts to shirking responsibility. “Forming a committee is a welcome move, but studying the issue and deciding a way only means it is shirking responsibility. The government should find a permanent solution. But for now, arrears must be released immediately,” SFI leaders Rajnikanth and Nagaraju said in a statement. FATHI stir Meanwhile, on the second day of the stir, according to FATHI about 1,800 various colleges observed the bandh. In addition, 52 Pharmacy colleges under JNTUs affiliation have boycotted the first-year B.Pharmacy second semester exams. The exams continued in nine colleges. FATHI reiterated that its demand is clear — release ₹5000 crore RTF dues immediately. It has already announced that its mega protest gathering will be held a LB Stadium on November 8 and the Long March to the State Secretariat will happen on November 11.
