IIT-Bombay asks students to suggest ways to reduce fees

Mumbai city news: The decision to review the fee hike came after students protested for more than a month

The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) has asked students protesting against the fee hike to come up with a fee model that benefits all. The students’ model will first get inputs from other senior administration members and then will be presented to the institute’s board of governors next month for a final decision. This decision was taken at a review meeting on Monday.

In May, the management of IIT-B introduced a hike for the new academic session. (HT FILE)

The decision to review the fee hike came after students protested for more than a month. They ended it with a relay hunger strike that started last week but was suspended after the institute’s director promised a review meeting. “The director has assured us that accounts of various expenses related to hostel and gymkhana facilities will be shared with the IIT-B community and student representatives will be included in the discussion regarding the fee hike,” said a student form the institute.

In a letter issued by Devang Khakkar, IIT-B director, to protesting students on July 4, he promised that a review meeting would be held on July 10. This meeting was attended by deputy director (finance and external affairs), dean (student affairs), registrar, three representatives of “Students Against Fee Hike”, general secretary (post graduate students) and a representative from Research Scholars Forum.

In May, the management of IIT-B introduced a hike for the new academic session, including a 300% hike in hostel rent, 167% in gymkhana fees, 100% in examinations, registration and medical fees and around 50% in other charges. The hostel rent of students in IIT-B increased from Rs500 to Rs2,000 per semester. Even the advance amount submitted for the mess went up from Rs15,000 to Rs20,000. The IIT-B authorities attributed this hike to inflation but students are upset that they were not consulted before it was implemented.

Khakkar, in a previous email, had also made it clear that in case the hike was rolled back, the decision could only be implemented after the proposal went to the IIT-B board of governors in August. Since July 11 is the last date for pay fees, students have no choice but to pay the hiked amount.

“The director has assured us that in case the proposed fees are reduced, the difference will be reimbursed or adjusted in the next semester fees,” added the student.