All College Students Association protests against change in fee payment

Mangalore, August 30: Protesting against the revision of norms stipulated for availing fee concessions for students from the backward classes, the members of the All College Students Association staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Wednesday.

Addressing a gathering president of the association Uttam Alva said according to the revised norms students, whose family income is less than Rs. 44,500, were denied the concession in payment of the course fees at the start of the academic year.

According to the revised norm, which came into effect in June, each student has to pay the fee for the entire duration of the course, while the Government would reimburse the concession by crediting the same to the student's bank account.

Mr. Alva said many students were finding it difficult to deposit the entire course fee in one shot. He said the State Government should revert to the earlier norm where the students deposited 50 per cent of the course fee, while the Government would reimburse the remaining amount to the respective college. Students belonging to communities under 2A, 3A and 3B of Backward Classes are affected by the new fee payment pattern.

The students raised slogans against the State Government.