Fee Reimbursement Dues of Rs 8,591 Crore Acknowleged in Telangana Assembly, Students and Colleges Face Hardships

The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed sharp exchanges over the mounting fee reimbursement dues owed by the state government, with AIMIM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi accusing the Congress dispensation of failing students and educational institutions. Responding to the criticism, SC, ST Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman admitted that the government owes Rs 8,591.63 crore under the fee reimbursement scheme.

The issue came up during Question Hour, where Owaisi highlighted the contrast between the current government’s performance and that of the previous BRS administration. According to the AIMIM MLA, the BRS government had released Rs 19,216.37 crore under the scheme between 2014-15 and 2023-24, while the Congress government has paid only Rs 1,164.82 crore in the last two-and-a-half years.

“When that government could pay the fee reimbursement, why cannot this government pay?” Owaisi asked, directly challenging the ruling party’s explanation.

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| Aspect | Details |
|——–|———|
| Total dues admitted by government | Rs 8,591.63 crore |
| Amount paid by Congress government (last 2.5 years) | Rs 1,164.82 crore |
| Amount released by BRS government (2014-15 to 2023-24) | Rs 19,216.37 crore |
| Teachers affected in private colleges | Nearly 2 lakh |

Impact on students and private colleges

Owaisi detailed the hardships faced by students and educational institutions due to the delayed payments. He said nearly two lakh teachers working in private colleges have not been receiving their salaries on time because the fee reimbursement funds have not been released. Many colleges are shutting down, he added, as the financial strain becomes unsustainable.

The AIMIM leader also pointed out that the scheme is meant to support students from economically weaker sections, but the delay is forcing many to discontinue their studies. He called for an all-party meeting to discuss irregularities in the implementation of the scheme and resolve the crisis.

Government’s response and revenue debate

Minister Adluri Laxman acknowledged the pending amount and assured the House that the dues would be cleared at the earliest. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for the payments.

Owaisi rejected the government’s argument that declining revenues were the reason for the delay. He offered to present detailed revenue receipts from the last year to show that the state’s income has not fallen as claimed. “Sir, if you permit me, I will give details of the last one year also over what are the real revenues and every month the receipts the government is receiving,” he said.

Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu assured the Assembly that the government would convene an all-party meeting shortly to address the issue.

Why this matters for Hyderabad readers

For students and parents in Hyderabad and across Telangana, the fee reimbursement scheme is a critical support system that enables access to higher education for economically disadvantaged communities. Private colleges, which depend on these funds to pay salaries and maintain operations, are directly affected by the delays.

The admission of Rs 8,591 crore in dues signals a significant financial challenge for the state government, but also raises questions about the welfare priorities of the current administration. With nearly two lakh teaching jobs at risk and colleges shutting down, the issue has direct consequences for the quality and accessibility of higher education in the region.

The all-party meeting promised by the government will be closely watched by stakeholders, including student unions, college managements, and teacher associations, who have been demanding resolution of the pending dues for months.

Source: Telangana Today – Hyderabad – https://telanganatoday.com/congress-government-owes-rs-8591-crore-in-fee-reimbursement-dues

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