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Oppn flays TS govt over FAST scheme
Oppn flays TS govt over FAST scheme, Telangana State government virtually turned down the suggestion of the opposition parties not to go ahead with FAST (Financial Assistance to Students of Telangana) until its implications were discussed thread bare.
- A round-table demands clearing of pending dues
- It also wants continuation of fee reimbursement scheme
- TRS terms fee reimbursement scheme the biggest scam
Hyderabad: Telangana State government virtually turned down the suggestion of the opposition parties not to go ahead with FAST (Financial Assistance to Students of Telangana) until its implications were discussed thread bare.
The opposition parties demanded that the government convene an all-party meeting and also clear the dues of the engineering colleges which have been pending for long. They said the dues up to the extent of Rs 4,000 crore.
At a round table conference attended by the representatives of TDP, Congress, CPI-M and CPI and also few college managements, the opposition parties asked the government to continue with the existing system of fee reimbursement for time being so that the careers of the students does not get affected.
Both the managements and the political parties expressed their displeasure over the unilateral decisions taken by the government in regard to the issue.
Speaking on the occasion, the TS-TDP MLA Revanth Reddy countered the government’s contention that most of the engineering colleges were surviving on the government scheme. He asked the Telangana State government to focus on improving educational standards in the institutions rather than discouraging the students. He demanded that the government acknowledge that it remains a defaulter to these colleges and urged it to at least release Centre’s funds meant for the SC, ST and Minorities.
On the issue of 1956 cut-off year for nativity, the leader challenged the government as to how it would prove the student’s nativity. “Will this provision means the government would support the students of all the districts of erstwhile Nizam state, some of which are now with Maharashtra and Karnataka,” he questioned.
Meanwhile, BJP leader K Laxman asked the government not to dilute the scheme initiated by the earlier government. He felt that many would lose employment if the government discontinues it.
CPI (M) former MLA Julakanti Rangareddy asked the government to consider views of all the stakeholders by convening a meeting with college managements. He also hoped it would release the funds to colleges.
However, TRS leader K Prabhakar described the earlier scheme as the biggest 'scam' and maintained that the government would support FAST.
Referring to the report of State Level Task Force Committee, he said more than 685 engineering colleges failed in standards. Only one fourth of the required faculty was engaged by most of these colleges. 319 colleges did not have land, 565 had no lab apparatus and 125 failed to come up with a library.
