Genuine colleges alone will get fee reimbursement, says Revanth

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy declared that only reputable colleges will receive fee reimbursement payments, announced on a phased basis, while the remaining institutions will be subject to close examination. Responding to allegations made by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Mr. Reddy addressed the Assembly, stating that from this year, ₹200 crore will be disbursed every month to fulfill the ₹2,500 crore requirement for the scheme.

The funds will be transferred directly into students' accounts in light of substantial irregularities observed in colleges' financial records. Mr. Reddy expressed his intention to utilize 75% of the fee reimbursement provided to Scheduled Tribes (ST) students and 40% given to Scheduled Castes (SC) students by the Central government, which has stipulated conditions on direct transfers to students.

He emphasized that the fee reimbursement was intended to benefit students rather than college administrations. The Chief Minister criticized the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, led by K. Chandrasekhar Rao, for using vigilance inquiries against colleges to facilitate defections and selectively raising fees for institutions favored by the government at the time.

He asserted that the status of the vigilance reports ordered during the prior administration remained unknown. Mr. Reddy alleged that colleges associated with K. Chandrasekhar Rao's close associate had received preferential treatment, while others were denied fee revisions. He questioned why college administrations had remained silent for nearly 10 years while the fee reimbursement dues accumulated.

"They did not speak for even a day or hold a single protest during those 10 years," he remarked. The Chief Minister also alleged that a university linked to a close aide of K. Chandrasekhar Rao held more than ₹400 crore in its bank account. "Where did this money come from? Is education a business?" he questioned.