Mumbai's Thakur College starts refunding extra fees after ABVP protest
Thakur College of Engineering and Technology in Kandivali has begun returning excess fees to about 5,000 students following sustained ABVP pressure
The matter of excess fees being charged to students at Thakur College of Engineering and Technology (TCET) in Kandivali (East), Mumbai, has finally been resolved. The college administration has started refunding the amount collected from students under the heads of "university fee" and "student aid fee". The decision will bring major financial relief to around 5,000 students.
The move comes after sustained demands from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). ABVP had alleged that the college was charging every student 3,000 rupees under "student aid fee" and 6,400 rupees under "university fee", a total of 9,400 rupees. The organisation said this amount was being collected from around 5,000 students, earning the college crores of rupees every year. To ease this financial burden on students, ABVP had been raising the issue with the administration for several months.
When the college administration did not respond positively, ABVP warned of an agitation. The organisation submitted three written representations to the administration demanding a stop to the fee collection and a refund of the amount already taken. When no action followed as expected, ABVP workers staged a protest and sit-in outside the college gate.
Following the protest, the college administration began the process of refunding the amount collected from students. This has brought a positive resolution to students' concerns over the fees, and students have expressed satisfaction.
Mumbai metropolitan secretary Abhishek Pawar said, "ABVP repeatedly took up the matter with the administration over the fees being charged to students at Thakur College under 'university fee' and 'student aid fee'. After three representations, when no action followed as expected, we had to take the path of agitation for the rights of students. It is satisfying that the amount collected from students has now started being refunded. ABVP will continue to raise its voice for the educational and financial interests of students. If any attempt is made to impose an unnecessary financial burden on students, ABVP will stand firmly against it."
