Patna, April 13: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan has hiked the school development fund fee by over 100 per cent for most of its students with effect from this April, eliciting strong response from many parents.

The 100 per cent hike in the monthly Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi has to be borne by students from classes I to XII. Against the earlier Rs 240, they would now have to pay Rs 500. Science students in classes XI and XII earlier paid Rs 300, though.

The hike, that came into effect from April 1, is the first since 2009; the development fee had then been hiked by around 50 per cent then.

R.K. Sinha, principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kankerbagh, said: “The libraries are being digitised and made better. Sports facilities are also being enhanced for. The computer labs too are becoming better equipped, with Internet facility. We aim to provide more facilities to the students in all areas and that is where the school development fee will come in.”

A Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher, requesting anonymity, said: “The students are being provided more facilities than before. They are being given air-conditioned transportation when taken for any cultural or sports event. We have started e-classes too, and they cost a lot.”

Most parents are perturbed with the added expenses. But the KV teacher said, “Parents of most students are government employees and would be reimbursed.”

Jakkanpur resident Rakesh Kashyap has two children, one of whom goes to Kendriya Vidyalaya. He said: “The private school my other child goes to hikes fees and transportation charges every year by at least 15 per cent. Now, with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, too, increasing fees, our problems are mounting.”

Computer fees for Class II and above, too, have been hiked, he said.

Mamata Sinha of Boring Road said: “I won’t face a problem, my husband is a government employee, he’ll be refunded.” Nala Road resident Nitin Prasad, however, said: “It’s okay for government employees. But what about us?”