Bathinda : Students of Government Rajindra College have upped the ante against Rs 310, which are being charged by the college authorities in the name of skill development fund.
The students, led by members of the Punjab Students Union, today went to meet the Deputy Commissioner pertaining to their demands.
The students argued that the college authorities had asked all students of regular courses and courses of the higher education to submit the amount.
“Only the students belonging to the SC category have been exempted from paying the fee. Till last year, the course was conducted free of cost,” said Karan Preet, a student.
Another student Sukhdeep said, “All students are not interested in doing the skill development course. As part of this, the students get training in information technology and marketing for two months. Only those students, who are interested in pursuing the training, should be made to pay the fee. Instead of that, the college has issued a notice asking all students to pay the amount.”
The students also added that earlier, training was imparted in the beginning of the session but this year, the college was doing the same in the last semester of the academic session. They also alleged that when they took up the matter with the college principal, they were threatened that if they didn’t pay the money, they would not be allowed to appear for the semester examinations.
Meanwhile, college principal Dr Sukhraj Singh said recently the college had received the directions from the Department of Higher Education. “The DC had also sought a copy of the directions, which we have submitted. It has been made mandatory for all students by the department itself,” he said.
The principal also added that the skill development training course was introduced last year at the government colleges.
“Last year, a private firm was handed over the task of training the students and therefore, the training was imparted free of cost. This time, the colleges have been asked to charge the fee from students and conduct the training themselves. The students have been asked to pay Rs 300 for the course and Rs 10 for the Red Cross Society. In the beginning of the next academic session, the students will have to pay Rs 600 for the training at the time of admission,” the principal added.
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