Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) convened a meeting on July 10, 2017, to discuss various possibilities to rollback fee hike that was introduced recently.
Highlights of the Meeting: -
- The authorities of the institute have asked the students to propose a revised fee structure.
- Students have welcomed the move as the institute has allowed them to take part in the decision-making process.
- Students will submit the revised fee structure in a couple of days.
- The institute will hold a separate meeting to examine the revised fee structure submitted by the students.
Since the institute released the revised fee structure, there have been wide protests from the students demanding to roll back the fee hike. Students were on relay hunger strike initially and called off the strike with the assurance to hold review meeting given by Director of IIT Bombay. Students had also threatened the administration of launching the protest again if the administration does not take a positive decision.
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Earlier, IIT Bombay justified the non-tuition fee hike stating that the institute will still incur an annual deficit of Rs. 8.35 crore or 20% of its total expenditure on medical fees, examination registration fee, gymkhana fee, hostel rent and others. The expenditure incurred on the maintenance of these services has increased from Rs. 15.42 crore in 2011 to Rs. 42.35 crore in 2017. Therefore, the institute had no other option but to revise the fee structure.
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Meanwhile, the internal earnings of IIT Bombay have doubled in the last five years due to the increase in the number of students from 6,000 to 10,000. There was no change in either non-tuition charges or tuition fees at first. It has has been trying to increase non-tuition fees to keep its finances stable. According to HRD Ministry, IITs can also raise funds through fees and other charges besides MHRD allocation.