PDSU calls for protest on February 27 over pending scholarships, fee reimbursements

State committee leaders of the Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) on Sunday announced a protest on February 27 to demand the immediate release of pending scholarships and fee reimbursement dues.

Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada, PDSU State president K. Bhaskar and secretary I. Rajesh, released a poster of the proposed protest. They alleged that while ₹7,600 crore in fee reimbursement and scholarship dues were pending State-wide, funds to the tune of ₹1,200 crore were only released before the Assembly session. They sought immediate release of the remaining ₹6,400 crore dues.

They also wanted the government to take immediate steps to fill the 4,200 vacant posts in government universities. During his ‘Yuva Galam Padayatra’ in Mangalagiri, HRD Minister Nara Lokesh had promised to scrap G.O. No. 77, arguing it barred PG students from pursuing higher education, however, this assurance remains unfulfilled, they said. They also demanded that 30 per cent of the State budget be allocated to the education sector.

The PDSU leaders urged students to participate in the proposed dharna in large numbers and make it a success, as it would help resolve issues in the education sector. District leaders of PDSU, including Ganesh, Mahesh, Pawan, Venkatesh, Dheeraj, Sunny and others were present.