The decision of Ranchi University (RU) to hike its tuition fee for postgraduate and undergraduate courses has not gone down well with many student organisations. Barring the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) all the other student bodies have protested against the fee hike and called it unwarranted.
The finance committee of RU decided to hike the tuition fee of all its courses during a meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Ramesh Kumar Pandey on Saturday.
The varsity increased the monthly fee from Rs 12 to Rs 125 for undergraduate courses and Rs 18 to Rs 150 for postgraduate courses.
This is the first instance of a tuition fee hike by the university since its establishment in 1960. An attempt was made earlier in 2004, but was met with protests from various student organizations. As a result, the varsity rolled back its decision. However, the various student organizations stand divided in their reaction to the increased fee this time.
ABVP, the student organization which swept the student union elections last year in December, winning all five posts, maintain that the fee hike is a necessary step towards the development of the university.
“We support the hike in tuition fees. We feel it is a nominal increase, and will only benefit the students in the long run,” Atal Pandey, State Executive Council Member, ABVP Jharkhand, said. He also said that such a hike was long overdue, as the university has been charging the same fees for over 50 years. However, he pointed out that the organization is against a fee hike in any other sections of the fee structure.
“The amount charged for other services like exams, admit cards and infrastructure should not be increased.” He also said that the tuition fees should not cross Rs.100 per month, and that there should be no further increase after this. “We are planning to have a meeting with the VC and the concerned body. We will bring our demands to their notice, and also know their reasons behind the hike.”
The Adivasi Chatra Sangh on Sunday called the varsity’s move ‘educational gate-keeping’. Sanjay Mahli, President of Adivasi Chatra Sangh, Ranchi University, claimed that increased fees will act as a deterrent for students from the backward sections of society to pursue higher education.
“This is a conspiracy by RSS-BJP to trample on the dreams of tribal students and other backward sections. We will not let this happen,” he said. He saw the decision as an effort to keep poor students away from college. “At a time when the varsity should make education free for the weaker sections of the society, it is increasing its fee and making it even more difficult for poor students to pursue their dreams,” he added.
In the same vein, Harish Kumar, State In-charge, All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU), said that the fee hike is against the interest of the students. “They already charge us for infrastructure and labs, but no development has ever happened in the past. There are no smart classes, no proper labs. We are studying in the same conditions as our ancestors did. A fees hike is not a solution to anything. AJSU will meet the VC and urge him to reconsider this decision,” he said.