Odisha management colleges want hike in fees

Miffed with inordinate delay in revision of course fees, Odisha Managament Colleges’ Association (OMCA) has urged the Directorate of Technical Education & Training (DTET) for early revision of the fee structure for the colleges offering MBA and MCA degrees.

The move comes after delay in fixation of fee by the directorate even after the publication of notice for revision of students’ fee for private engineering colleges and professional colleges of Odisha for the academic session 2013-14.

The fee structure committee under the Odisha Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act, 2007, revises the fees every three years on the basis of audited statement of the accounts of the colleges.

“Nothing has been done in last one and half year even after the submission of the proposals. We have charged the students as per the old fee structure in 2013 and now the counseling for 2014 is imminent,” said Sudhanshu Dash,Treasurer of OMCA.

At present, the MBA and MCA colleges are charging an annual amount of Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,12,000 per year as per the old fee structure decided in 2010, and the college authorities have proposed a proportionate hike of 30 per cent.

College authorities alleged that most of the colleges are heading towards closure because of the faulty policies of the state government.

“We have filed a case in the High Court for revision of fee,” said Dash.

“The hike in fee is  necessary as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is asking to pay the salaries to the faculties as per sixth pay commission and charges of various services have also increased in the mean time,” he reasoned.

“The admission for the session 2013 has been completed since August 15 and seven months have elapsed after the presentation of fee structure by individual colleges. We request for fixation of fees of member institutions at the earliest,” Pratap Balabantray, secretary wrote to the Chairman, Fee Structure Committee, Odisha.