Will not tolerate blackmail, Telangana CM warns striking private colleges
Hyderabad – The strike by private professional colleges in Telangana continues, with more than 2,000 institutions demanding that the state pay the money they are owed under the fee reimbursement scheme.
On Friday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy told reporters that the government will no longer tolerate what he called “black‑mail” from college owners. The CM said he will pay the dues in phases, but the colleges must not disrupt student learning.
“We plan to release the money in stages,” Revanth Reddy said. “Students should not bear the inconvenience. They claim new problems appeared after I took office, but this has always been an issue.”
The CM added that many colleges are charging high fees in violation of rules and are demanding government reimbursements. “Are you black‑mailing the government?” he asked. “How can we negotiate with colleges that have shut down schools? I know the donations these institutions collect.”
He reminded school leaders that education is a public service, not a business. Revanth Reddy also highlighted irregularities in how college permits are granted and warned that colleges should understand the political implications of their actions.
According to the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI), the total fee reimbursement owed to colleges is Rs 10,000 crore. FATHI wants the state to pay Rs 5,000 crore immediately, with the remaining Rs 5,000 crore split into ten monthly instalments of Rs 500 crore.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the first payments will cover October 2024 dues. He pointed out that Telangana’s monthly revenue is about Rs 18,000 crore. After salaries, loan interests and other expenses, only about Rs 5,000 crore is left. “How are you going to run the state with this money?” he asked.
The strike, now in its fifth day, continues to put student education at risk while the state works to resolve the financial dispute.
Source: ianslive
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