Hyderabad: In a major relief to private educational institutions, deputy chief minister and finance minister Bhatti Vikramarka announced on Monday that the govt will release an initial Rs 600 crore to clear pending fee reimbursements. Following this assurance, the prolonged strike by private college managements was called off after productive discussions between the stakeholders and the state govt.

Speaking at a press conference, Vikramarka acknowledged the financial strain on colleges but affirmed the govt’s commitment to support education. “Despite the state’s fiscal challenges, we are determined to address the backlog. We understand the importance of education for middle-class and underprivileged families who depend on these schemes. Our govt is fully committed to ensuring that students’ education continues without disruption,” he said.

The minister said that the Rs 600 crore would be equitably distributed among all colleges for which tokens have already been generated. This is to avoid only a few colleges monopolising a large share of the fee reimbursement outlay. Future payments would be streamlined to avoid accumulation of dues, the minister said.

The minister also announced the formation of a committee with representatives from colleges and govt officials to rationalise and streamline the fee reimbursement process, making it more systematic and transparent.

College managements welcomed the decision, expressing appreciation for the govt’s responsiveness and willingness to engage in constructive dialogue. They also pledged to collaborate with the administration to resolve the challenges faced by educational institutions.

Sources indicated that during extensive meetings held over the weekend, college managements had sought the release of around Rs 500 crore—proposing Rs 300 crore for professional colleges and Rs 200 crore for degree colleges—to ease operational constraints.

Vikramarka further said, “We have inherited a substantial burden of pending bills from the previous administration, but we are committed to making education a priority and upholding this responsibility.”

The agreement marks a significant step towards stabilising the financial situation of private colleges in the state and ensures that students’ academic progress is safeguarded.