Hyderabad: Starting Monday, November 3, engineering and other professional colleges in Hyderabad and across Telangana have initiated an indefinite strike. This action is led by the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI), representing professional colleges in the region.
FATHI plans to meet with ministers, MLAs, and MPs on November 4 to present their concerns. Additionally, they aim to engage with 100,000 private college teachers on November 6. A rally to the Secretariat is also scheduled for November 10. The strike stems from the government’s failure to release the promised Rs 1,200 crore for pending fee reimbursements, with only Rs 300 crore provided so far.
Meanwhile, the state government has announced inspections of educational institutions following reports of irregularities. Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao issued a memo stating the inspections aim to verify the legitimate functioning of colleges and the eligibility of scholarship applicants.
These checks will cover teaching and non-teaching staff, classrooms, furniture, laboratories, and other facilities. Institutions offering courses in engineering, pharmacy, law, nursing, MBA, MCA, and BEd will be scrutinized. College members perceive these inspections as an attempt to suppress their demands amid the strike.
