Private colleges in Telangana have called off their indefinite strike after the state government agreed to release ₹600 crore towards pending fee reimbursement arrears. The breakthrough came on Monday night during talks between the state government and leaders of the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Education (FATHI).
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who led the group of ministers in the talks with FATHI representatives, announced that the government had decided to immediately release ₹600 crore towards fee reimbursement arrears for which tokens were issued. He assured that pending dues would be cleared in a phased manner. Vikramarka also mentioned that a committee would be constituted for the rationalisation of the fee reimbursement scheme.
The strike had been launched on Monday by colleges including engineering, pharmacy, nursing, MBA, MCA, and BEd institutions. The Federation had submitted a notice to the Telangana Council of Higher Education Chairman Prof V Balakista Reddy, stating that fee reimbursement arrears to the tune of ₹10,000 crore were pending. They had demanded the release of ₹1,200 crore pertaining to already generated tokens.
Following the breakthrough, the management announced that colleges would reopen from Tuesday. The Deputy Chief Minister thanked the management for withdrawing the strike and for agreeing to resume classes.
