Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the current state government of neglecting student welfare, leading to significant distress due to unpaid fee reimbursement dues. Reddy specifically pointed to the alleged suicide attempt of a student at a private engineering college in Chittoor district as a direct consequence of the government’s failure to clear these outstanding amounts.
mounting arrears in fee reimbursement schemes
According to details accessed by The Chenab Times, Reddy stated on social media platform X that students have taken to the streets to protest the non-payment of college fees. He claimed that the government’s inaction has not only driven students to extreme steps but has also led to similar incidents in the past at the same institution. He held Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh directly responsible for the prevailing crisis.
The YSRCP chief alleged that the coalition government has weakened the Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena schemes, which were introduced during the YSRCP’s tenure to support students from economically weaker sections in pursuing higher education. The total pending dues under these two schemes were estimated to be ₹12,400 crore. Reddy detailed that 13 quarters of Vidya Deevena payments, amounting to ₹9,100 crore at ₹700 crore per quarter, are due by the end of the academic year. Additionally, ₹3,300 crore is pending under Vasathi Deevena for April 2024, 2025, and 2026. He stated that only ₹2,800 crore has been paid in two installments, leaving more than ₹9,600 crore unpaid.
Colleges Pressuring Students, Threatening Academic Futures
Reddy further alleged that colleges are pressuring students to pay their fees, threatening to prevent them from appearing for examinations or withholding their certificates. This pressure, he claimed, has forced some students to discontinue their education or take up jobs, while others are facing severe distress. He demanded that the Chief Minister immediately relieve Nara Lokesh of the HRD portfolio, clear the pending arrears, and ensure that colleges cease to exert pressure on students.
The issue has also seen political exchanges, with YSRCP leaders like MLC Kalpalatha Reddy and Student Wing Working President A Ravichandra echoing similar sentiments. They accused the TDP coalition government of jeopardizing students’ futures by failing to clear fee reimbursement arrears and called for Nara Lokesh’s resignation. They highlighted that students in Chittoor, Chief Minister Naidu’s home district, have protested over colleges withholding certificates and restricting access to examinations due to unpaid fees.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Nara Lokesh has previously accused the YSRCP government of burdening the state with ₹6,500 crore in dues, affecting students and the education sector. He alleged that arrears under schemes like Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena, as well as unpaid reimbursements to colleges, jeopardized students’ futures during the previous administration’s term. Lokesh also stated that the TDP-led government resolved issues related to withheld certificates and directed colleges to issue them promptly.
The fee reimbursement scheme in Andhra Pradesh has a history of providing support to students from lower economic strata, with various governments implementing and modifying the program over the years. The current political climate in Andhra Pradesh appears to be deeply divided on the handling of these crucial student welfare initiatives, with significant financial implications and student well-being at the forefront of the debate.
The Chenab Times News Desk
