Post News Network
Baripada, August 3: Tension mounted on the premises of the local Government Women’s College here Monday after the authorities almost doubled the re-admission fees of the students.
Last year, the re-admission fee was Rs 615 which has been increased to Rs 1, 224 this year, a report said. The authorities have also collected the hiked fees from the students who have taken admission in Plus III first year this session, it added.
However, the students’ union leaders including its president Anjana Sinha, general secretary Dibyashree Rout, vice-president Sonali Behera and dramatic secretary Archana Upadhyay opposed the decision and met principal Subas Chandra Patra over the issue. But the latter stuck to his decision saying the hiked fees were collected to meet the expenses of security and engage sanitation workers in the college. The date for readmission was fixed August 2 and 3. Opposing the move of the college authorities, the girls, without participating in readmission process, assembled on the premises to register their protests.
Later, the principal had to concede the students’ demand and held discussion with them. The decision on fee hike was rolled back.
When contacted, principal Patra said, “Appointment of security personnel is necessary to have a three-tier security system in the college and sanitation workers are also required to keep the premises clean.” It was decided to collect the additional expenses on the head of ‘security and sanitation’ from the students as there was no head allotted for the purpose,” he added.
Though, he wrote to the department in May seeking permission in this regard, it is yet to receive the approval, the principal further said and added that the readmission process would go on as usual since Tuesday.
