KTR Calls for Reversal of GO 7, Warns of Protests Over Student Welfare Concerns

Hyderabad: K. T. Rama Rao has intensified pressure on the Telangana government, calling for the immediate revocation of GO 7 and signalling that his party will mobilise protests across the state if the administration fails to respond.

In correspondence sent to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday, Rama Rao contended that the order poses a significant threat to nearly 14 lakh students belonging to BC, SC, ST, and minority communities. He characterised the move as a major blow to the fee reimbursement mechanism that enables economically disadvantaged students to access higher education.

According to Rama Rao, the policy decision risks cutting off educational opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students and leaves their futures in limbo. He sought a public apology from the Chief Minister and urged a fundamental rethink of the approach.

The former minister highlighted a mounting financial crisis in the education system, noting that approximately ₹10,000 crore in unpaid fee reimbursement dues has accumulated over the past two-and-a-half years. This backlog has placed severe operational constraints on over 2,500 colleges, he noted, with students experiencing prolonged delays in obtaining certificates and advancing their academic pursuits.

Rama Rao took issue with the government's reliance on task forces and incremental fund allocations, asserting that such measures have failed to resolve the underlying problem and have only perpetuated instability for both educational institutions and students.

Beyond the financial grievances, Rama Rao raised alarm about conditions at residential educational institutions, alleging systemic failures in providing essential amenities and pointing to administrative shortcomings in student welfare management.

Should the government persist with its current course, the BRS will not remain passive, Rama Rao cautioned. He asserted that his party stands ready to organise demonstrations and cautioned that responsibility for any student-led agitations would lie with the administration.

Rama Rao reiterated his dual demand: the withdrawal of GO 7 and the immediate settlement of outstanding dues. Both measures, he maintained, are essential to safeguard the educational future of students throughout Telangana.