Fee hike sparks protest

Around 200 students from the Indira College of Engineering and Management in Parandwadi near Talegaon protested on Wednesday against the colleges decision to more than double their fees.

They staged a dharna at the college gates demanding that the hike be withdrawn. They had paid Rs 30,000 as fees for 2008-09 at the beginning of the academic year. Three weeks ago the college hiked the fees by Rs 42,000 with a payment date of January 15.

On Wednesday first-year and second-year students met R V Kulkarni,director of the institute,conveying their inability to pay the hiked fees. Kulkarni expressed helplessness,asking the students they could sit at home if they could not pay, said a student. Kulkarni said the college is increasing the fees as per recommendations of the Shikshan Shulka Samiti. Now we would have to pay around Rs 1.68 lakh extra, the student added.

Tarita Mehendale,chairperson of the Indira Group of Institutes,said,It is not a fee hike as we had only taken the interim fees from students at the beginning of the academic year. We are only acting on the recommendations of the Shikshan Shulka Samiti. What we have asked the students to pay is the difference. We are ready to accept installments.

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