Prakasam dist, Dec 1: Former Minister Adimulapu Suresh slammed the coalition government for turning fee reimbursement, once a lifeline for poor and middle-class students, into a curse by withholding dues for eight consecutive quarters. Speaking at the YSRCP office in Singarayakonda, he said the government has allowed nearly Rs. 7,800 crore in fee reimbursement and scholarship arrears to pile up, pushing students, parents, and educational institutions into a deep crisis. He questioned how Minister Nara Lokesh, who speaks endlessly about IT parks and “Quantum Valley,” failed to clear even basic dues that determine the future of lakhs of students. Suresh reminded that during 2014–19, the TDP government left behind Rs. 1,778 crore in arrears for 16 lakh students, all of which were cleared by the YS Jagan government immediately upon assuming office, and challenged Lokesh to a public debate on the subject.
Suresh said YSRCP under YS Jagan implemented 100% fee reimbursement, paid dues quarterly without delay, deposited Vidya Deevena and Vasati Deevena directly into mothers’ accounts, and provided Rs. 18,663 crore in support to over 55 lakh students in five years. In contrast, the present government’s refusal to clear dues has left private colleges unable to pay staff salaries or upgrade academic infrastructure, while students are being denied certificates and forced to drop out due to financial hardship. He accused Lokesh of focusing only on hounding political opponents with the “Red Book” instead of safeguarding the education system.
Stating that parents are now selling assets just to pay their children’s fees, Suresh said the government has paid only Rs. 700 crore against Rs. 7,800 crore pending, despite earlier promises of quarterly payments. He warned that student unions are preparing to lay siege to the houses of MLAs, Ministers, and even the Chief Minister, and declared that YSRCP will extend full support to these protests. He demanded immediate clearance of all arrears and condemned the government’s parallel attempts to privatize government medical colleges. Suresh asserted that people will soon deliver a decisive verdict against a regime that has betrayed the future of students.
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