Will Hyderabad College Holidays End After CM's Warning?

The standoff between the Telangana government and private colleges over fee reimbursement dues continued with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy warning managements against using students as pawns. The private colleges in Hyderabad and across Telangana remained closed for the fifth day consecutively with no resolution in sight immediately.

Reddy has made it clear that the government won't tolerate any blackmail, emphasizing that education is a service, not a business. "The State government will not keep quiet if college managements blackmail us under the pretext of fee reimbursement," he asserted, warning them against playing with students' futures.

FATHI accused the government of going back on its promise to clear dues worth ₹1,200 crore by Diwali, saying only ₹300 crore was released. FATHI chairman Nimmaturi Ramesh Babu reiterated that the strike would continue till the government met their demands, alleging that college managements were pushed to a breaking point.

The indefinite strike, launched on November 3, is demanding that the State government release 50% of the pending Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF). As talks between FATHI and the State government have failed to break the deadlock, the students are bearing the brunt of the prolonged holidays.

FATHI has been denied permission to hold a public meeting at LB Stadium on November 8 by the Hyderabad City Police on various grounds, including of logistical. FATHI has approached the Telangana High Court against this decision, and a final decision on the venue is awaited.

The continued standoff has made students and parents concerned about the possible impact on the academic calendar. "We are losing precious study hours due to these holidays," said a concerned parent. FATHI, however, remains resolute, with Babu stating that the strike would continue until their demands are met.

A student rally, earlier scheduled on November 11 in Hyderabad, has now been postponed to November 15, with the organizers awaiting the court verdict on the meeting venue. The development has added to the uncertainty surrounding the college holidays in Hyderabad. While the government insists that the funds are released on schedule, FATHI is unconvinced, calling this an attempt by the government to drag its feet. As events unfold, students and parents remain hopeful that a solution may arrive in time to lift the college holidays.

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