Private Colleges Strike From Oct 13 Over Fee Reimbursement

Private colleges in Telangana have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from October 13 if the State government fails to clear long-pending fee reimbursement dues.

The Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI) said that despite Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka's assurance of releasing Rs 600 crore before Dasara, only Rs 200 crore had been disbursed so far.

The total dues had mounted to nearly Rs 10,000 crore, but the college managements, despite being under financial stress, had agreed to an immediate release of at least Rs 600 crore considering the government's current fund crunch. But even that amount had not been paid, it lamented, and as a result, faculty, staff and other stakeholders faced growing uncertainty, with institutions struggling to meet even basic obligations, it claimed.

FATHI chairman N Ramesh Babu said that the situation had become unsustainable. "From today, we will speak only to the CMO. If the dues are not cleared by October 12, we will launch an indefinite strike, and may call for a 'Chalo Hyderabad' protest with students," he concluded.