Andhra Pradesh: Student bodies resent massive PG medical fee hike

Kurnool: Kurnool Medical College became witness to student ire when activists lit a state government effigy in front of the institution, on Monday. It was an expression of their opposition to the fee hike in post-graduate medical courses by 100% to 400% . Their plea for protest was the unreasonable hike in fee, which made post graduation unaffordable for the low-income and middle income lot.

AISF District President E. Sriramulu Goud, Secretary G. Ranganna, Bhaskar, SFI City President- Akbar, Secretary-Siva and AIYF District Secretary-U.Karumanchi who were present on the occasion detailing the fee increase said that the PG medical fee in A category had risen from Rs. 2.90 lakh to Rs. 6.90 lakh; B category from Rs. 5.25 lakh to Rs. 24.2 lakh ; whereas fee for the NRI quota had made a quantum jump of Rs. 72 lakh

The student leaders professed that the Government’s SOPS to private Medical Colleges and the steep fee hike was approved to benefit them further. They vociferously voiced a roll back on the steep hike.

The felt that the government was giving several sops to private medical colleges and the steep fee hike was approved to benefit them further. They demanded a reversal of the fee hike.

General Secretary, PDSU’s State unit-U. Gani Raju while speaking to the students alleged that the decision to hike the fee for the medicine course was merely to give a position of advantage to corporate educational institutions. “Students from poor financial backgrounds cannot afford to undertake medicine now. The hike should be revoked immediately,” he told the Hindu.

Meanwhile, Kakinada saw demonstrations staged outside the Collect rate’s office on Monday. Students raised slogans and blamed the government for having taken unilateral decisions.