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Students of KK Polytechnic Institute demonstrate in front of the district collectorate in Dhanbad on Wednesday. Picture by Pankaj Singh
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More than 60 SC, ST and OBC category students of KK Polytechnic Institute in Dhanbad gheraoed the district collectorate on Wednesday, demanding more stipend and full reimbursement of their tuition and examination fees.
The students, all pursuing diploma in engineering at the Nairo-based cradle, first marched from Dhanbad station to Randhir Verma Chowk, where they staged demonstrations around 9.30am. Thereafter, they reached the district collectorate and shouted slogans against the state welfare department. They sat on a dharna outside the collectorate after being denied entry into the office. Later, they handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.
A final-year student of the polytechnic who took part in the demonstration said that they had deposited Rs 36,000 at the time of admission and were told that their stipend and tuition fees would be reimbursed once the college received funds from the welfare department.
“While the reserved category students of private polytechnics of other districts are getting Rs 25,000 per annum under the head of stipend, reimbursement and other charges from the welfare department, we were paid merely Rs 3,000 about two-three days ago,” said a second-year student. He added that the college administration failed to explain the reason as to why they were paid less, which prompted them to hit the streets.
District welfare officer Sangita Sharan said the stipend for reserved category students of private polytechnics had been reduced according to a new government rule that came into effect from this year.
“According to this guideline, the students have been brought under C category of beneficiaries from the earlier B category status,” she added.
She further pointed out that the government provided reimbursement for tuition, examination and registration fees according to the slab of state-run colleges and not private colleges. Hence, the reserved category students received Rs 3,000 instead of the higher reimbursement demanded by them.
Notably, more than 2,000 students are currently pursuing diploma in five trades — mechanical, electrical, civil, electronics and automobile — at KK Polytechnic.
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