UoH students protest over timely scholarship disbursal-OxBig News Network

Over 70 students staged a protest at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Thursday, demanding immediate disbursal of TS E-Pass scholarships, review of the budgetary allocation for education and timely scholarship disbursal in the future.

In the videos making rounds on social media platforms, Gachibowli police were seen controlling the crowd with gusto. However, no preventive arrests were made.

Speaking to The Hindu, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) president Lenin said that the call for effigy burning of State government came after no response despite writing to them twice.

“Police tried to initially engage with us through a conversation, but they suddenly snatched the effigy. Some students, including Student Union’s president Umesh Ambedkar, sustained injuries in the melee. There was a second attack on students when they were burning the effigy,” he said.

According to the students, the delay reflects a lack of commitment from the Congress-led Telangana government towards education and exposes negligence towards marginalised communities. They also criticised the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of Congress, for remaining silent on the issue and failing to push for the release of funds.

“Without structural support like the TS E-Pass scholarship, it becomes increasingly difficult for marginalised students to pursue higher education,” a statement issued by the SFI read.

Many students struggle to pay for essential expenses, including mess bills, while graduating students face uncertainty over clearing dues to receive their degrees, it added.