Chandrababu Govt responsible for student suicides: YSRCP MLC

Nellore, Nov 13: YSRCP MLC Parvathareddy Chandrasekhar Reddy slammed the Chandrababu Naidu government for pushing students into severe financial distress by withholding fee reimbursement and Vasathi Deevena payments. Addressing the media at the YSRCP district office in Nellore, he questioned why the government was spending lavishly on Amaravati construction while neglecting students' education and future.
Referring to an engineering student's suicide attempt in Chittoor following intense fee pressure, he demanded a comprehensive investigation and action against those responsible. He said approximately Rs. 9,600 crore in fee reimbursement and scholarship dues had accumulated since 2024, forcing colleges to pressure students and parents, withhold hall tickets and certificates, and deny examination opportunities.
He recalled that Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy introduced fee reimbursement to support poor students, while Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy further strengthened the scheme. On April 28, 2020, the Jagan government released Rs. 4,100 crore, including arrears inherited from the previous TDP administration. It also provided approximately Rs. 700 crore in quarterly reimbursements and Rs. 1,100 crore annually under Vasathi Deevena.
He questioned why the TDP's election promise to extend fee reimbursement to postgraduate students remained unfulfilled. While the YSRCP government developed 45,975 government schools through Nadu-Nedu, the present administration has stalled development works and neglected basic educational facilities.
Holding Chandrababu Naidu and Education Minister Nara Lokesh responsible for the crisis, Chandrasekhar Reddy questioned Lokesh's eligibility to continue as Education Minister. He demanded immediate clearance of arrears, a definite payment schedule and strict orders preventing colleges from withholding students' certificates or hall tickets. He warned that YSRCP would launch statewide protests if the government failed to protect students' futures.