No fee for poor, SC/STs at IITs

Waiver effective from next academic year

The Centre has waived the fee at the IITs for economically weaker sections who have annual income of less than `1 lakh per annum, those from SC and ST communities and those who are physically challenged, from the coming academic year.

Minister of state for HRD Satya Pal Singh told the Rajya Sabha that a waiver was given in 201617, to socially and economically backward students at the IITs. In the case of students whose annual family income is between

`1 lakh and `5 lakh, twothird of the fee will be remitted.

IITs charge an annual fee of `2 lakh-`2.5 lakh. With hostel and expenses, it works out about `4 lakh.

Central University students will get benefit under the Central Sector Scheme for college and university scholarships.

Those whose income is less than `8 lakh per year will be provided `10,000 per annum for the first three years and `20,000 for the next two.

These new incentives has got Central Universities in a fix the University Grants Commission wants to them to improve education and but also look for self-funding.

The main source of Central university funds are fees and the new changes will deplete the resources. IITs get funding from their alumni and are able to maintain infrastructure.

Asked about self-funding sources, Prof V. Pavarla, a senior professor, said: “Funding is through short-term courses offered to professionals, research projects where grants are provided. Also, 40 per cent of consultancy given to professors in NGOs, UN and in industries are reserved for universities. But then professors have teaching commitments, so such funding options are few and far between.”

Asked if the new waivers will help institutions maintain faculty, a professor said, “Most students who study in IITs and universities are assisted for education loans. These will see a major.”