SFI calls for State-wide protest on July 6 over fee delays and hostel issues

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Leaders of SFI release a wall poster for their proposed protest on July 6, in Vijayawada on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) announced a State-wide protest in front of District Collectorates on July 6, 2026, demanding the immediate release of pending fee reimbursement dues, regular disbursal of fee reimbursement, withdrawal of the Facial Recognition System (FRS), and an increase in hostel mess charges to ₹3,000 per month.

Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Tuesday (June 30), SFI State president P. Rammohan and State secretary K. Prasanna Kumar said students continue to suffer due to delays in fee reimbursement, regardless of which government is in power. They alleged that while the previous government failed to clear pending dues, the present coalition government had promised timely payments and uninterrupted education but has not fulfilled those assurances.

The SFI leaders said that the mounting fee arrears have created uncertainty over students’ higher education. They alleged that several private institutions and government universities and colleges were refusing to allow students to appear for examinations unless they cleared pending fees. Referring to a recent incident at Rayalaseema University, they claimed the hostel was locked and students were told it would reopen only after fee payments were made.

The student organisation also expressed concern over hostel conditions, stating that mess charges had remained unchanged despite rising food prices. It demanded that the monthly mess bill for hostel students be increased to ₹3,000, arguing that the current allocation was inadequate to provide nutritious food.

The leaders also criticised the implementation of the FRS, alleging that it was being used to reduce the number of students eligible for scholarships and fee reimbursement rather than improve the welfare system. The organisation vowed to oppose policies that adversely affected poor and economically disadvantag