AP toughens stand against private colleges

Hyderabad, May 18: The state government has hardened its stand against professional colleges, which have threatened to close down their institutions, if the government did not pay fee reimbursement dues by May 25. The government made it clear that it has its ways and means to deal with recalcitrant managements. The issue will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting slated to be held on May 19. Though technical education commissioner L Premachandra Reddy held a meeting with the managements of the colleges on Monday, solution proved to be elusive.

Meanwhile, the officials of the chief minister’s office spoke to social welfare department principal secretary A Vidya Sagar on the issue.

Speaking to Express Technical Education Minister M Venkataramana Rao said that colleges cannot hold the government for ransom knowing fully well the financial implications. The colleges cannot insist on reimbursement dues at one go, the minister said and added that the managements had no option but to cooperate with the government.

He indicated that the government may release some amount towards dues but warned the managements to understand that they cannot push the government around.

Higher Education Minister D Sridhar Babu said that the colleges cannot serve an ultimatum to the government. He said the technical education commissioner had written a letter to the managements of the colleges a month ago urging them to cooperate with the government since it was hard up for money and not to disturb the academic year of the students.

Meanwhile, Progressive Democratic Students Union held a demonstration in front of the Secretariat pressing for reimbursement of fee.

Speaking to the media PDSU general secretary Gautam Kumar said that the government was adamant on releasing the funds. The police rounded up the demonstrators and shifted them to police station. In another development AP BC Welfare Association state president R Krishnaiah warned that if the government did not pay the dues by the end of this month he would go on fast-unto-death.

–Agencies