VSKU Fee Hike Sparks Widespread Student Protests Across Ballari and Vijayanagara

Student Activism Intensifies Over Admission Costs

On Tuesday, the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) led a demonstration outside Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University (VSKU) in Hosapete. The organization is demanding an immediate reversal of a recent fee hike affecting undergraduate students for the 2026-27 session. Protesters claim that second and third-year students are being charged between ₹1,500 and ₹2,000 more than the previous year, a move they argue disproportionately impacts families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Economic Strain and Educational Barriers

AIDSO district secretary Kambali Manjunath highlighted that the student body largely consists of individuals from farming and working-class families. In districts like Ballari and Vijayanagara, drought-like conditions have already placed significant strain on these households. According to Manjunath, many students currently juggle part-time manual labor with their studies, often missing classes just to cover basic educational expenses.

Specific data points cited during the protest include:

• General university fees rose from approximately ₹3,500 to ₹5,000.
• Students at SGRCM College in Ballari may face total costs of ₹6,000 including college-specific fees.
• At Government First Grade College in Kurugodu, totals could reach nearly ₹8,000.
• Certain government institutions reported fee spikes as high as ₹3,000.

Individual accounts, such as that from student K. Srikanth, suggest these costs are becoming prohibitive. Srikanth noted that his own sister was forced to abandon her education due to financial limits, and he fears he may be next if the trend continues.

University Cites Grant Shortages Amidst Rejection of Compromise

Vice-Chancellor M. Muniraju addressed the situation by linking the fee revision to a lack of sufficient government grants. While the university offered a compromise—extending the payment deadline by one month and reducing the fee increase by 50%—the AIDSO and the student body rejected the proposal. The activists insist on a full withdrawal of the hike and a refund of any surplus already collected.

In addition to the main campus protest, AIDSO members submitted a formal memorandum to the principal of Sri Shankar Anand Singh College. District secretary U. Umadevi emphasized that since higher education is a fundamental right, it should remain accessible to all regardless of financial status. The organization plans to consult with students across all affiliated colleges to determine the next phase of their movement.

Source: The Hindu — National