Coaching institutes in Kota demand junior college status

Coaching institutes in Kota, a hub for competitive exam preparation centres, are demanding the status of junior colleges, claiming that this step would decrease the "financial burden of students".
"The coaching institutes should be granted the status of junior college as it would reduce the financial burden of the coaching students," P K Bansal, Director of Bansal classes, said.
He claimed that in Maharashtra and some other states in south India such institutes have been granted the status of junior colleges, Bansal claimed.
Director of Allen Coaching Institute, Naveen Maheshwari, said this step would protect students from "financial exploitation" as they would not have to pay the fees for both coaching and school.

Naveen claimed that the coaching industry here is paying about Rs 600 crore as taxes to the government.
Bansal said the government should also reduce the service tax levied on coaching institutes as the burden eventually falls on students.

The management of these institutes also feels the government should regulate private hostels, paying guest houses, messes and eatery stalls as they exploit the students without providing basic facilities or ensuring their safety.
The coaching industry here has generated employment opportunities for providing food, accommodation and transportation to students, most of whom are from outside Kota and Rajasthan, Anwar Ahmad, who works for an NGO, said.

The lack of regulation on eateries and hostels is causing a loss of revenue for the government and exploitation of the students, he said.
There are only 59 registered canteens and 183 restaurants, according to an official of Food and Safety department under Chief Medical and Health Officer, rest hundreds are functioning without any registration or license.