By Ministers Sridhar Babu
Copyright thehindu
The Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI), representing managements of degree, engineering and pharmacy colleges across the State, have called off their strike for RTF dues, following assurance from the State government to immediately release ₹600 crore, late evening on Monday (September 15).
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the “accumulated Reimbursement of Tuition Fees (RTF) dues now are debts inherited from the BRS government because of its decade-long financial mismanagement.” But the Congress government has been rectifying each sector, he said, before announcing the resolution.
The ₹600 crore being released is towards the already generated tokens and future payments will be streamlined to avoid accumulating dues, he said.
FATHI had given the indefinite strike call on Friday and said September 15, the birth anniversary of engineer and Dewan of Mysore Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, commemorated as Engineers’ Day, will be observed as black day in Telangana.
The federation had demanded the release of ₹1,200 crore for already generated tokens for which budget had also been earmarked. However, several meetings in the past, protests, and bandh for a few days, did not yield result.
The ‘black day’ indefinite strike call had its effect and Mr. Vikramarka along with Minister for Information Technology D. Sridhar Babu held consultation with association leaders twice, both extending into late evenings on Sunday and Monday.
At the 10 p.m. announcement, Mr. Vikramarka, joined by Ministers Sridhar Babu and N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and Principal Secretary (Finance) Sandeep Kumar Sultania and others, said the message to all students, college managements and its association is that the government accords utmost importance to education sector.
‘Committee for rationalisation’
Mr. Vikramarka also assured that a committee, comprising Principal Secretaries, senior officials and representatives from the federation, would be formed to simplify, streamline, and consolidate processes for smooth RTF disbursements in the future. The proposal has been approved, and the committee will be formed shortly.
FATHI chairman N. Ramesh Babu, who was present along with his delegation, expressed thanks to the State government for the immediate release of ₹600 crore, and described it as “a good sign to all managements, teachers and staff before Dasara festival.” “We hereby call off our strike,” he declared.
