Students protest admission fee hike
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 12 2021:
Protesting against the hike in admission fees, students' unions of various colleges affiliated to Manipur University on Sunday locked down the administration blocks and main gates of the colleges, thus halting all admission processes.
In this regard, a Forum of the student unions of the colleges convened a press meet at the campus of Imphal College, Kwakeithel.
Speaking to the media, Imphal College Students' Union general secretary Oinam Premdas expressed that the act of increasing the admission fees amidst the Covid pandemic is basically trying to bleed the students dry.
The college admission fee, which was not taken in the last academic session, was included in the fees to be deposited into Government account.
Although Manipur University did not utilise the Sports fee & Cultural fee deposited annually, it was collected as part of the admission fee every year even during the pandemic.
Despite the requests of the student unions to decrease the admission fee, authorities concerned proceeded with the admission process while hiking the admission fees.
As such, the unions halted the admission processes from Sunday onwards and will continue to do so until the fees are reduced, he conveyed.
Premdas further condemned the colleges affiliated to MU for not lowering the fees amidst the pandemic, when many other varsities in other states have done so.
He then cautioned of launching further agitations if the fee structure is not modified as soon as possible, while stating that the department concerned would be responsible for any consequences resulting from the same.
The press meet was attended by secretaries of student unions of around 12 colleges affiliated to MU .