#Reduce semester fees By -Muskan Bhardwaj

As everyone knows that it is a very critical time. Countries are already racing just to slow down the spread of virus but corona virus is moving like a wave. Covid 19 is not only a health virus but it is much more than that. It has a power to build a devastating economic crisis which will leave deep scars.

No one knows that when all things will become normal. Many peoples are losing their jobs and source of income. On one hand people are losing their source of income and on other hand parents are worried about the payment of fees of colleges, universities and schools.

This lockdown is worrying parents all over country. Many businesses have been shut; many of them lost their jobs. Not everyone studying in colleges and universities are rich, some are dependent on monthly saving and collecting the money for payment of fees of their colleges, some students those who are self-employed and pay their college fees by their own without any family support, are sitting at home without any income and are worried about the payment of fees.

“How to except self-employed, a poor family, or small businessman to pay 1 lakh- 1.5 lakh fees post lockdown.” The request is not to waive 100% of fees but at least to reduce some fees of semester in colleges so that it may not over burden parents and a student itself too.
This is a time of crisis. And it should be ensured by every educational provider universities and colleges that none of the student should suffer. The decision should be taken in such a manner that it should neither affect the students nor the colleges and universities.

It is well understood that colleges and universities have also to pay the salary to faculties but again it is repeated that the request is not to 100% waive of the fees but only to reduce some of it, so that it should not be burdensome for parents and students plus the salary of faculties also should not be hampered.

The point are raised by many of the parents that maintenance fees demanded by colleges and universities should be waived off as demanding of maintenance fees is useless when colleges are shut down since past 2 months and no one knows that when the colleges and universities are going to reopen.

Secondly, parents said that students must not be charged for running fees like TRANSPORTATION COST when colleges and universities are shut. Points are raised that when colleges and universities has been shut since past 2 months due to which there is no consumption of water, electricity. Hence, they should reduce the amount of that part so at least some burden upon parents and students may reduce.

In this critical time we all have to unite together and fight against this hard time. All families’ financial conditions are not same. The demand is not cutting 100% of fees but reduce some which will ultimately benefit both of students, parents as well as colleges and universities.

As a student we also understand that colleges have to pay the salary of faculties but as a education provider you have to understand that none of the student should suffer. The question arises that “whether the students and parents should choose essential commodities to survive in this difficult situation or whether they should choose to pay the fees to colleges and universities so students could get uninterrupted education?”
Essential commodity is important for surviving and education is important for career.

A PIL has been filed by styam singh Rajput in this regard in Supreme Court and the petition adds

“the present demand by the educational institutions force parents and students to choose between basic essential commodities required to survive lockdown and to effectively exercise their right to uninterrupted education.”

Further it adds

“right to education can only have effective meaning if it is read as a right to continuous and uninterrupted education, the reality also remains that many students and parents are supporting their educational endevaours by educational or friendly loans, which further add to the burden.(sic)”