Fee hike is another attempt to intensify Privatization of PU, says SFS

'Govt. have funds to waive off Corporate Debts, but not for Education' : Sandeep SFS 

Chandigarh: July 29th, 2023: (Kartika Singh/Arth Parkash):: SFS held a protest against massive fee hikes in major departments like UILS, UBS, UIET, UICET, UIPS and others. SFS General Secretary coordinated the protest and said that the fee hike is unacceptable to students. At a time, when inflation and unemployment are high, when inequalities are rising and when people of north India are facing the worst kind of floods, PU authorities increased fees as if education is a commodity to be sold or bought in the market. 

SFS President Sandeep said that we strongly oppose Fee Hike. It is an attempt to intensify the privatization of Panjab University. It will deprive the majority of the right to education. Poor, middle class and marginalized sections will be adversely hit. Lack of funds is a false pretext. In the last five years, the BJP government at the Centre has waived off more than Rs. 10.50 lakh crore of Corporate debt. But they don't have funds for education, health and for social welfare. Instead of resisting the fund cut, PU authorities conveniently increased the fee.

PU Authorities hgave no Logic for Fee Hike: 

During the protest, the PU authority's representative came to listen protesting students. But they had no logic for a fee hike. Later PU authorities held another meeting to lift our dharna on the pretext of the arrival of the NAAC team in the coming days and illogically tried to the prestige of the university. We rejected these untenable arguments. We said if a better NAAC grade is linked with increased fee hikes, contractual workers, and guest teachers then we don't want such a grade. Accessibility and affordability of education for all must be important criteria of any such grading and prestige of the university.
The protest was also joined by other organizations and an indefinite strike is going on.