Unregistered colleges cannot claim reimbursement : Govt

The state government has released Rs 2150, Rs 56.15 crore more than the total arrears of Rs 2093 crore towards the reimbursement of tuition fee to colleges and maintenance to students (SC, ST, BC, EBC, DW, MW), according to Minister for Social Welfare Pilli Subhaschandra Bose.

The Sub-Committee of Ministers, which met on at secretariat discussed the issue of fee reimbursement in detail and arrived at a decision, among others, to check the registration of junior and degree colleges and edibility criteria of the students to check any malpractices and misappropriation.

Later briefing the press persons, Minister Pilli Subhashchandra Bose said that there 9,903 colleges have been registered and there are some without registration.

Stating that there are over 26.50 lakh students, an amount of Rs 3,800 crore is required for the programme, which had been well received so far, the Minister said.

He made it clear that students should have 75 percent attendance. They should also pass the exam to go to next year. These students will be eligible for the fee reimbursement.

Students who fail cannot claim the reimbursement for the same year.

Students have been asked to give their applications for the reimbursement, he said. Freshers have to apply from November 15, and senior students have to apply for renewals from November 20, he said. 

When asked about the notaries charging Rs 300 to 400, he said orders have been issued to fix the limit at Rs 20 for notary fee. The sub-committee is meeting again on November 8, to regulate such irritants.

The notaries in the agency areas will go to the colleges and complete the affidavit formalities to check the genuineness of the students.

The Revenue officials will also visit the colleges and the education department officials will also enquire if any misappropriation is taking place besides enquire any specific allegations in respect of fee reimbursement and then government will order an enquiry to remove any anomalies, the Minister said.

The sub-committee consisted of Ministers, Social Welfare Pilli Subhashchandra Bose, Agriculture N Raghuveera Reddy, Tribal Welfare P Balaraju, Higher Education D Sridhar Babu, BC Welfare Mukesh Goud attended the meeting.