Guwahati: Student bodies launched statewide protests against Assam’s decision to charge 50% admission fees from students from financially weaker families with backlogs.The All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) on Tuesday sent a demand letter to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and education minister Ranoj Pegu, seeking withdrawal of the decision.Aasu sought a full fee waiver for all eligible students, withdrawal of the 50% fee-waiver notification and refunds for fees already collected.Aasu president Utpal Sarma and general secretary Samiran Phukan said the education department’s decision to exclude students with arrears or backlogs from the fee-waiver scheme was unacceptable. The govt initially directed such students to pay the full admission fee but later issued a notification allowing only a 50% waiver following protests.SFI also held protests at various institutions, beginning with a gherao of the directorate of higher education. Students have also staged independent protests.“The basis of the free admission scheme is the economic condition of a student’s family, and not the student’s academic merit or marks obtained in exams. Therefore, imposing an additional financial burden on such students is completely discriminatory,” the Aasu statement said.Aasu said several students paid their fees with difficulty, in some cases by taking loans.It also sought clarity on whether the scheme would cover fourth-year students in four-year undergraduate programmes, saying the lack of guidelines created uncertainty among students and college authorities.Aasu said the waiver must apply across all four years and urged the govt to issue clear instructions.
