Student Organisations Demand Reversal of Fee Policy as Reimbursement Crisis Deepens

Hyderabad: Student organisations have intensified their campaign against G.O.Ms.No.7, warning that the Telangana government's ambiguous stance on fee reimbursement is creating widespread uncertainty affecting nearly 14 lakh learners.

A significant demonstration was organised at Gun Park, with Student JAC chairman Vemula Ramakrishna leading the mobilisation. The event was attended by former minister Srinivas Goud, who served as the chief guest.

Participants took part in a torch march and voiced their opposition through slogans targeting the government's controversial decision. The protesters contended that the absence of transparent guidelines in G.O.Ms.No.7 would discourage economically disadvantaged students from pursuing advanced studies.

Student representatives highlighted the government's failure to communicate timelines for disbursing outstanding reimbursement funds to student accounts. They raised critical questions about how learners could sustain their academic pursuits when educational institutions continued demanding upfront fees.

Policy Creates Financial Barriers to Education

The demonstrators alleged that colleges had begun collecting fees prior to the admission process. Multiple institutions, they claimed, were conditioning admissions on immediate payment of fees.

Protest organisers asserted that the policy would burden economically weaker students with debt obligations. They cautioned that financial hardship could compel many learners to abandon their higher education aspirations.

The protesters stated that pending reimbursement liabilities had accumulated to over ₹10,000 crore. They further noted that several educational institutions were withholding academic certificates due to outstanding reimbursement amounts. This situation, they argued, was depriving students of employment and further educational opportunities.

Specific Demands and Proposed Solutions

The Student JAC has called for the immediate disbursement of all outstanding reimbursement amounts and the enactment of a comprehensive fee regulation framework. The organisation has also urged the government to revise G.O.Ms.No.7 and introduce a structured payment timeline.

Student representatives have proposed a phased disbursement approach: 25 percent of reimbursement amounts at the commencement of the academic year, 50 percent at the midpoint, and the remaining 25 percent upon completion, to be processed through an expedited clearance mechanism.

The demonstration drew participation from BC JAC working chairman Kojja Krishna, alongside activists Narasimha Naik, Sai Sania, Pratyusha, Vennela, Prajala Anusha, Shruti, and Aishwarya.