Congress Vows To Rejuvenate Education System In 100 Days

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy assured the managements of private educational institutions and their associations that the grand alliance of the Congress, TDP, TJS and CPI would include their issues in the Common Agenda and resolve them on priority - within 100 days - after "coming to power" after the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing a meeting organised by the KG To PG Educational Institutions JAC on Wednesday, Reddy accused caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of cheating the people of Telangana on the promise of KG-to-PG free education.

"There are nearly 85 lakh students across Telangana in various classes from KG to PG who expected that KCR's scheme would benefit them. However, by setting up a few residential schools which cater to not more than one lakh students, KCR thinks that he has fulfilled the promise of KG-to-PG free education. With what face will KCR seek votes from the people?" he asked.

Reddy said that over 12,000 schools, about 2,000 junior colleges, nearly 1,000 degree colleges, 200 PG colleges, 600 professional colleges and 500 B. Ed. and D. Ed. colleges with a combined strength of 46 lakh students were being run by private managements. They were also providing employment to nearly 5 lakh people including teaching and non-teaching staff. He said that these people had also played a major role not only in the formation of Telangana, but also in putting the TRS in power in the state. However, KCR had humiliated them on multiple occasions, and even denied them appointments to discuss their problems.

He also said that TRS government had ruined the careers of lakhs of students by not clearing the fee reimbursement dues.

He said that "the next Congress government" would pay the fee reimbursement amounts every year in two installments. There would also be 100% fee reimbursement for students belonging to the SC, ST, BC and minority communities. Also, the power bills of private educational institutions would be converted from the commercial to the domestic category. For property tax, too, they would be considered domestic and not commercial.

The meeting was also addressed by Telangana TDP president L Ramana, CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy and JAC Chairman Ramana Reddy. Other leaders were also present in the meeting. They also launched the poster of the "#WeToo" campaign of the KG-to-PG JAC which is being called a "Movement For Change Of Government Of Telangana".