AURANGABAD: Almost two months after the State Higher and Technical Education Department asked universities to offer a concession to students in fees, among other reliefs during the current pandemic for the academic year 2020-21, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Bamu) finally made the necessary announcement on Wednesday.
Declaring a slew of such measures, Bamu has said that its departments and affiliated colleges should completely waive off fees charged towards hostel facilities, gymkhana, activity charges, medical help, and youth festival, among entities, that were of no use to students during the pandemic situation. Also, the university has asked for offering 50% discount in charges towards laboratories and libraries, said an official release.
A decision to this effect is applicable to granted, partially granted and permanently non-granted colleges.
Moreover, the university has clarified that no student should be prevented from taking examination if fees for the academic year 2020-21 is due to him or her. The departments and colleges have been asked to allow such defaulter students to pay the fees in three to four instalments. As regards to some of the examinations that could not take place due to Covid-19 in the academic year 2020-21, Bamu has asked for passing on the fees for the next academic year.
Also, Bamu has decided to completely waive off the fees for all students who have lost their parents due to Covid-19.
Bamu has around 428 affiliated colleges having a combined student population of 4.44 lakh, who will be benefiting from the waiver and concession in fees.
Student activist Tukaram Saraf said Bamu should ensure that all relief measures declared for students in the wake of the pandemic situation should not remain on the paper. “The university should set up a help-desk for students who could face issues in getting different waivers and concessions in fees. A section of affiliated colleges may be reluctant in offering such benefits to students and therefore related complaints must be addressed effectively,” he said.
