Hyderabad: Former minister and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao accused the Congress government of weakening the fee reimbursement scheme in Telangana. He also alleged that the government had failed students from weaker sections.
Harish Rao made the remarks at a meeting with BRS student wing leaders at his Siddipet camp office. Rao asked BRSV leaders to visit villages. He urged them to highlight what he called Congress failures.
He said the fee reimbursement scheme had begun during Congress rule in undivided Andhra Pradesh. However, he said K. Chandrashekar Rao continued the scheme after Telangana was formed.
According to Harish Rao, the BRS government never stopped fee payments. He said payments continued even during the Covid-19 financial crisis. Further, he claimed that the government released about ₹2,000 crore every year.
He said total releases reached ₹19,500 crore during nine-and-a-half years of BRS rule. In contrast, he alleged that the Congress government released only about ₹400 crore in three years. He said the difference showed that education was not a key government priority.
Fee reimbursement scheme draws Harish Rao attack
Harish Rao said the Congress manifesto had promised to improve the fee reimbursement scheme. Instead, he alleged that the government was allowing the programme to fade away.
He also referred to the promised ₹5 lakh Vidya Bharosa Card for every student. The promise formed part of the Congress party’s six guarantees, he said. However, he alleged that it had not been implemented. Harish Rao also cited promises on pending fee dues. He said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had promised in the Assembly to clear the dues.
Further, he referred to an assurance from Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. According to Harish Rao, Bhatti had given an assurance to college managements. He said all dues would be cleared within two months.
However, Harish Rao alleged that both assurances remained unfulfilled. He accused the government of failing to keep its promises. He also alleged that delays in the fee reimbursement scheme were hurting BC, SC, ST and minority students. According to him, poor students were being pushed away from higher education.
Harish Rao claimed that some students could not pay even examination fees. He also alleged that welfare hostels had shut. Further, he claimed that degree and junior colleges had closed during Congress rule. He accused the government of weakening the wider education system.
Harish Rao also criticised the government over recruitment and jobs. He alleged that the promised job calendar had been shelved. In addition, he described the Mega DSC recruitment drive as a failure. He accused the government of failing to meet its recruitment promises.
Fee reimbursement scheme linked to wider education row
Harish Rao said the previous BRS government had improved schools through the Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme. In contrast, he alleged that the Congress government had not improved even one school.
He also said some government schools had still not received uniforms. According to him, this showed poor attention to basic student needs. Harish Rao said Telangana had about 300 residential schools during the period before statehood. He claimed that the KCR government increased that number to 1,000.
Rao also claimed that no other Chief Minister had created as many residential schools for poor students. According to him, the expansion gave weaker sections better access to education. Harish Rao described Siddipet as an education hub built over the previous decade. Harish Rao said several institutions had been brought to the constituency during BRS rule.
Rao alleged that the Congress government had cancelled a veterinary college secured for Siddipet. He made a similar allegation about an agriculture college.
Further, Harish Rao accused Revanth Reddy of shifting the veterinary college from Siddipet. He said the Chief Minister had not established a new veterinary college elsewhere. Instead, he alleged that a college secured for Siddipet had been moved.
Harish Rao asked BRSV leaders to strengthen the student wing in every village. He also called for more opportunities for new student leaders. Further, he asked them to take education and welfare issues to people at the village level. He said the fee reimbursement scheme should remain a key issue for the BRS student wing.