Sudden raise in college semester fees met by angry demonstrations

EOI, Gangtok, 14 July 2014: Students from various state government colleges today hit the streets and protested outside the Human Resource and Development Department against the recent increase in semester fees.

The semester fee has been raised from Rs 381 to Rs 1,200 for Humanities and Commerce students, while it is Rs 1,700 for Science students. A rally was taken out by students of Tadong Government College, Government Law College, Burtuk College, Rhenock College and Geyzing College. It started from Tadong College and was stopped by the police at NH10 and diverted to Namnang Road. The students were stopped from entering MG Marg following which they took another route via the Sikkim Legislative Assembly to reach the HRD department.

“Our fees have been raised without prior intimation and we demand their reduction at the earliest,” said a student from Tadong Government College.

Meanwhile, Deepa Basnet, director of Higher Education, said, “The semester fees have been revised after 30 years and students were being charged a nominal amount all this while. The plan to increase the fees was being mulled since the past few years and the move was made accordingly after receiving the government’s approved and also after discussing the matter at length with principals of various government colleges.” 

She added, “The fees should have been revised at regular intervals but we were compelled to increase them now given fund constraints being faced by colleges. Although the government grants funds to the colleges, the money does not suffice to meet the facilities students require.”

The department said Humanities students will now have to pay Rs1,200 per semester, Science students Rs1,700, while Physical Education and Statistics students will need to pay Rs1,400 per semester. However, it rubbished students’ claim of examination fees being raised from Rs200 to Rs8,000.

Basnet further said, “Students who score above 70 per cent in their Class XII board examination are being provided with a scholarship of Rs800 per month, while those who have scored between 50 per cent and 70 per cent and belong to economically weak families also benefit from the same facility.”

The ruckus outside the HRD office continued for several hours in the afternoon until it was decided to send 30 representatives from five government colleges to meet with department officials. However, there was no positive conclusion and the students have decided to call a strike beginning Tuesday till their demands are met.

“We will try our best to address the issue although we are not the authority to decide on the matter,” said an HRD official after the meeting.

One of the agitating students said, “It is not just about admission fees, but every month we have to pay for accommodation and food, which almost costs Rs 4,000. Add to this the need for photocopies and books. We are from economically backward families and that is the reason why we have opted for a government college.”

“We will submit a memorandum to the government placing our demand, but will not attend college” said Bimal Neopaney a student at Tadong Government College.

“This is a revolution and it is not just for us, but for future students as well and we will continue to agitate until our demands are met. We also want to ask all parents to support us. If the government fails to fulfill our demands, we will go on an indefinite strike” said Prakash Parajuli, another student.

The students were demonstrating at the MG Marg while protests were still ongoing outside Tadong College when this story went to press.

After the rally, the students blocked the national highway near Tadong College. Following this, SP Manoj Tiwari launched a lathicharge and severely injured some students. In retaliation, the students also became violent and forced the SP and his subordinates to beat a hasty retreat. The situation worsened when the public also got involved and became aggressive.

DIG (Range) MS Tuli had to take control of the situation by assuring both students and public to investigate into the matter. He also said the injured students and police personnel would be taken for a medical examination. The DC (East) also reached the spot and has decided to call a meeting with departmental heads, police officials and the students for a lasting solution.