Tadepalle, Nov 13: YSRCP president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has held the Chandrababu Naidu-led government responsible for a student’s suicide attempt at a private engineering college in Chittoor, alleging that delays in fee reimbursement payments have pushed financially disadvantaged students into severe distress.
In a strongly worded statement addressed to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Jagan accused the government, particularly the Education Department under Minister Nara Lokesh, of neglecting students’ welfare and failing to clear pending dues under the Jagananna Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena schemes.
Jagan alleged that students at the college had taken to the streets expressing their anguish over unpaid government fee dues and the pressure exerted by college managements to collect fees directly from them and their parents. He also referred to reports of previous student suicide incidents at the same institution and accused the government of attempting to divert attention from the issue.
According to Jagan, the government’s failure to reimburse college fees has forced educational institutions to shift the financial burden onto students. He alleged that students were being threatened with restrictions on appearing for examinations and withholding of certificates if they failed to clear their dues. While some students were reportedly taking up jobs to continue their education, others were facing severe emotional pressure.
YS Jagan Claims Over Rs.12,400 Crore in Pending Dues
Highlighting the financial liabilities under the two education welfare schemes, Jagan claimed that the government had accumulated substantial arrears under Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena.
According to his calculations, for the 13 quarters up to the end of the current academic year, the government should have released approximately Rs.9,100 crore under Vidya Deevena, calculated at Rs.700 crore per quarter.
Additionally, he put the pending Vasathi Deevena payments at Rs. 3,300 crore, comprising three annual installments of Rs.1,100 crore each.
Jagan said the total amount payable under both schemes stood at Rs.12,400 crore. However, he claimed that the government had released only two installments of Rs.1,700 crore and Rs.1,100 crore, leaving more than Rs.9,600 crore in outstanding payments.
He questioned how economically weaker students could continue their higher education without financial support from the government and accused the ruling administration of jeopardising their academic future.
Accuses Government of Undermining Education Welfare Schemes
Jagan recalled that his government had introduced and implemented schemes such as Amma Vodi, Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena with the objective of ensuring access to quality education for children from poor families.
He alleged that the present government had systematically weakened the fee reimbursement and accommodation assistance schemes since assuming office, thereby depriving disadvantaged students of opportunities to pursue higher education.
He further accused Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh of failing to take responsibility for the crisis in the state’s education sector.
YS Jagan’s Demands
Demanding immediate intervention, the YSRCP chief called upon the government to:
- Immediately clear all pending dues under Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena.
- Stop colleges from pressuring students and parents to pay outstanding fees.
- Ensure that students are not prevented from appearing for examinations or denied certificates over unpaid fees.
- Stop attempts to divert attention from the Chittoor student’s suicide attempt.
- Relieve Education Minister Nara Lokesh of his responsibilities, alleging administrative failure in the Education Department.
Jagan said the government must take responsibility for the distress faced by students and ensure that financial difficulties do not force poor students to abandon their education or put their lives at risk.
He reiterated that the immediate release of pending fee reimbursement dues was essential to protect the educational future of thousands of economically disadvantaged students.
