Telangana Students Demand Immediate Release of Pending Scholarships and Reversal of Exam Fee Hike

Hyderabad, November 10, 2024* — BRS Student wing (BRSV) has strongly condemned the state government for its failure to release nearly Rs 4,000 crore in pending scholarships, which they say is affecting over 14 lakh students across Telangana. The students are also demanding an immediate rollback of the recently increased intermediate exam fees. At a press conference on Saturday at the BRSV city office, GHMC Coordinator Mir Qurram Ali expressed grave concern over the financial hardships faced by students. “Students are already dealing with severe economic strain. Increasing exam fees only adds to their burden,” Ali stated. He also pointed out that the delay in scholarship disbursements is preventing many students from obtaining essential certificates, which in turn is hindering their ability to continue their education or secure employment. The BRSV also raised concerns over the stagnation in scholarship amounts, which have remained unchanged for over a decade. “The cost of living has risen sharply in the last 12 years. Everyday essentials like eggs and fruits are no longer affordable for many students, and the quality of food has significantly deteriorated,” Ali said, urging for an urgent revision of scholarship amounts to align with current economic realities. The students also highlighted the disparity between the government's treatment of student welfare and the rising salaries of government employees and ministers. “Government employees’ salaries have been increased multiple times in recent years, and pension benefits for senior citizens have been raised five times. However, the financial needs of students are being completely overlooked,” said BRSV leader Radhakrishna. The BRSV also questioned the lack of response from prominent political figures, including Congress MLC Venkatesh and national leaders like Rahul Gandhi, regarding the students' concerns. The student leaders called on Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Revanth Reddy to take a more active role in demanding the immediate release of scholarships and the reversal of the fee hikes. With tensions rising, student leaders have vowed to escalate their protests if their demands are not met. “We will not back down. The government can no longer ignore the struggles of students,” said Mir Qurram Ali. As pressure mounts on the state government, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will address the students’ demands or if protests will intensify.