Maharashtra: Ratnagiri college students protest against fee hike outside Mantralaya

Mumbai: BK Walawalkar College, Ratnagiri's phenomenal 80% fee hike has resulted in a protest being staged by the students and parents outside the mantralaya office, recently. The student leaders of Prahar Student’s Organization who led this protest expressed their disappointment in the Shikshan Shulka Samiti having given approval to the hike.

The college's fee hike involves it being raised from Rs. 4 lakh of last year to Rs. 7.25 lakhs, presently. The Marine Drive police detained 15 protesting students, who were set free later in the day.

A student protester said, "We were shocked when just a month was left for the academic year to get over and the college put up a notice saying that we have to pay the increased fee. We had taken admission on a fee structure of Rs 4 lakh per year and suddenly the administration is asking us to pay Rs 3 lakh more."

According to sources, when the objections raised by students and parents went unheeded at the management end, students and parents approached Shikshan Shulka Samiti, which promised them that a meeting would be held with the authorities in their presence. However, nothing has come of the assurance either.

"We want to know how the regulatory body approved such a huge hike?" questioned a parent. Speaking to mid-day, a student leader from Prahar Students' Organisation said, "Medical education is already very expensive. Not only does the government need to regulate fee structures, it also needs to consider the opinions of parents and students."