Submit info of fee-relaxation given to students during pandemic: Director to varsities

Among several fee-relaxations announced during the pandemic were– fee waived for co-curricular activities as no event was held; 50 per cent reduction in lab and library fees as colleges were closed; adjusting exam-fee and allowing fees to be paid in 3-4 installments for all students without denying them a chance to appear for exams due to delayed payment. The list of relaxations also included complete fee-waiver for the entire course to students who lost parents during the pandemic.

Dr Deolankar explained that as per the declaration, this fee-waiver was for the entire course. “For example, if a student was in the first year of BA at that time; fees of all three years of his/her graduation should have to be waived off. But it seems some institutes asked such students to pay up in the later years of the course. After the ministry received such information from across the state, it has asked tthe institutions to verify whether universities and affiliated colleges offered the benefits announced by the government.