Telangana private professional colleges to continue strike till 50% pending fee dues are released

Hyderabad: Telangana private professional colleges have decided to continue their indefinite strike until the state government releases 50 per cent of the pending fee reimbursement dues.

Colleges Firm on Stand

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday, Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI) president Ramesh Babu stated that the strike had entered its third day and would continue without interruption.

“The colleges are continuing their strike for three days now. The government has invited us for talks, but we will not withdraw the strike until our demand is met,” he said.

Committee on Fee Reimbursement Announced

The state government recently constituted a committee to explore ways to mobilise funds for the fee reimbursement scheme. The panel will include both government officials and representatives from FATHI and will study the possibility of implementing a sustainable model through the Trust Bank.

While FATHI welcomed the committee, Ramesh Babu urged that its work be expedited. “The committee should be asked to submit the report in one month and not three months as announced,” he remarked.

Dues and Government Commitment

According to FATHI, the total arrears under the fee reimbursement scheme stand at Rs 10,000 crore. The federation claimed that during talks held in September, the government had assured that Rs 1,200 crore would be released before Deepawali, but only Rs 300 crore has been disbursed so far.

“We are only asking the government to release 50 per cent of the fee reimbursement dues immediately,” Ramesh Babu reiterated.

Upcoming Faculty Meeting and Protest Plan

FATHI also announced that a faculty meeting will be held at LB Stadium in Hyderabad on November 8, which will see participation from around 70,000 teachers.

“If our demands are not met, we will stage a massive protest with 10 lakh students,” warned Ramesh Babu.

Allegations Against Officials

The federation also criticised the ongoing vigilance raids on educational institutions, calling them oppressive. “These raids reflect a dictatorial attitude,” Ramesh Babu said, adding that the managements feel harassed.

FATHI further demanded the immediate transfer of Education Commissioner Devasena, accusing her of “harassing college managements.”

Background: The Fee Reimbursement Issue

The fee reimbursement scheme in Telangana was introduced to support students from economically weaker backgrounds pursuing higher education in private professional colleges. Over time, delays in fund release have led to financial strain on institutions, which depend heavily on these reimbursements to manage operations, pay staff, and maintain infrastructure.

Despite multiple rounds of discussions between FATHI and government representatives, the issue remains unresolved. The continuation of the indefinite strike is expected to affect academic schedules, examinations, and student services across hundreds of professional colleges in the state.