Bandra college kids launch virtual fight against fee hike

Updated on: Thursday, November 17, 2011

Students of Thadomal Shahani College of Engineering in Bandra have taken the virtual route to protest against a fee rise.

After the institution raised the annual fee of Rs 89, 000 by another Rs 22,476 on November 10, the students created a page on a social networking site and started posting indignant messages, venting their anger at being asked to pay such a steep amount, which they claimed was unjustified. They are also incensed that the authorities have asked them to deposit the increased amount within five days of declaring it.

The revised amount is applicable for students of second, third and fourth-year engineering students. As first-year students already pay around Rs 1 lakh, they are exempted from it.

A second year student said, “We paid Rs 89,000 at the beginning of the year. The rise is unjustified. The college does not offer us that great facilities to ask for another Rs 22,476. It was also difficult for us to make an immediate payment.” He added that the frustration among students was obvious from the comments on the site. “Everyone has been adding posts to register their protest. Some of them even called the deadline for payment ridiculous,” he added.

The youngsters met the principal, G T Thampi, on Monday when he refused to decrease the amount but extended the last date of payment to January 15. Thampi said, “The Shikshan Shulka Samiti has allowed many colleges to raise their fees to pay the teachers their arrears according to the Sixth Pay Commission scale. The amount will be collected only once from the students. Next year, the current fee structure will be restored.” The principal added, “First-year students have been exempted as they already pay Rs 1 lakh. The hike is applicable to second, third and fourth-year students who pay Rs 89,000, 78,000 and 70,000. It is a one-time collection.”

Bandra college kids launch virtual fight against fee hike

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