ABSU Stages Protest Against Central Institute of Technology for Hike in Fees

Kokrajhar, July 1, 2019:

All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) on Monday staged a 2 hours protest against the 'Economic Subjugation by increasing admission fees is Economic Injustice to economically weak students.'

The ABSU members submitted a memorandum to the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Central Institute of Technology (CIT) and sent copies to the President of the CIT Society, Director, Registrar and BOG members.

In the memorandum, the protesting members demanded to immediately stop the ongoing admission with the new admission fee structure, withdraw the hiked admission fees of session 2019-2020 and continue the previous years' admission fees, and reveal the break-up of fee structure for respective categories and semesters.

These demands were made seeking the economic justice to pursue the technical higher education at the Central Institute of Technology by the aspiring students who are waiting for admission but are unable to do so due to the unprecedented hike in the Admission Fees for the Semester 1 of Session 2019-2020 in the Diploma, B.Tech and B.Des.

In the memorandum, it was stated, “Such a blatant increase in admission fees is systematic economic subjugation to the local economically weak students and paves way for the rest who are well to do. Every opportunity has to be provided for the tribals and rest especially for the people of the BTAD region. This is very much possible and can be done reminding the very reason for the establishment of the Central Institute of Technology in this region after the BTAD accord.”

“Such economic injustice will never be tolerated by ABSU, through this there are much suspicious management going on in this CIT, which must have shifted the burden to the students. There are complaints of administrative callousness that are also connected with this economic injustice invented by the authority concern,” it added.

The ABSU members alleged that there is a game being played to conceal this hike in fees which was not earlier informed to students through the prospectus. Such intentional frivolous administration shows some wrong signal towards the healthy functioning of the CIT. The ABSU has alleged that many students and guardians from the BTAD region have been taken aback by this development.

Also Read: First Guwahati-Dhaka Flight Flagged off by Assam CM Sonowal

This has all happened due to the unprecedented hike in Admission fees, which has increased to more than 3 fold from the previous year’s admission fees. For instance, present session 2019-2020 admission fees for SC/ST/PWD in 1st Semester Diploma is Rs. Rs.27710; compared to previous year’s admission fees of Rs.12790.

“ABSU will never tolerate such frivolous administration, which will affect and deprive the students from the economically weak background. No matter what may the eligible students of this region as per the reservation policy of the CIT has to be given an opportunity for pursuing technical education from CIT (Deemed to be University) Kokrajhar. Economic subjugation must not be the burden and obstacle the CIT has to pave ways for these local students,” they mentioned.

ABSU made clear that deadline to fulfill their demand has been set to July 4, 2019.

They threatened, “If demands are not heard amicably, more rigorous movements will continue until this economic injustice ends. Rs. 40500 (Including Hostel Fees) which is increased by Rs.27710; compared to previous years admission fees for the same was Rs.12790. If demands are not heard amicably more rigorous movements will continue until this economic injustice ends.”