PSU protests move to charge PTA fee from SC students

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 8

Members of the Punjab Students Union (PSU) staged a protest outside the Mini-secretariat complex over the decision of Government Rajindra College to charge Parent Teachers Association (PTA) funds from students belonging to the Scheduled Caste category here on Saturday.

The students gathered in front of the secretariat building and raised slogans against the college authorities. The protesters alleged that the college authorities had promised that Parent Teachers Association funds for eligible SC students would be waived but authorities have now decided to charge it.

Sangeeta Rani, president of the union, said, “The college management has put up a list of candidates on the notice board asking them to submit Parent Teachers Association funds before the examination. The college management has backtracked on its own decision that Parent Teachers Association funds from SC candidates will be not charged. We have submitted a memorandum of demands to the deputy commissioner in this regard and requested the administration to resolve the matter at the earliest otherwise we will be forced to intensify our stir.”

Sangeeta added, “This apathetic attitude of authorities would not be tolerated anymore. The fee, including Parent Teachers Association fund, is quite high and not every student can afford to pay it.”

The protesting students raised slogans against the state government and Government Rajindra College authorities. They alleged that the college authorities had started charging PTA fee from the SC category students.

Earlier during admission in July, the students had protested for more than a week demanding waiving of PTA funds following which the college authorities had given them an assurance that they would not charge the same.

On the other hand, the college authorities had claimed that they were charging Parent Teachers Association fee from students as the college was dependent on guest faculty teachers, who were paid the monthly salary from the funds collected by them.