Congress rubbishes opposition's charges on fee Reimbursement

The Congress Party on Wednesday dismissed the allegations of opposition parties over the implementation of fee reimbursement scheme by the State Government. 

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson N Tulasi Reddy accused the Telugu Desam and YSR Congress parties of leveling baseless allegations against the government over the fee reimbursement scheme. He claimed that despite financial constraints and minor glitches the schemes was being implemented properly across the State. 

Tulasi Reddy said that the TDP has no moral right to criticise the government over fee reimbursement. He said during TDP's regime, only 6.98 lakh SC and ST students were given a scholarship of Rs 310 crore. However, he said the Congress government has so far spent Rs 3,569 crore toward fee reimbursement of 23.98 lakh students. He said besides regular students, the State Government has extended the scheme to minorities, OBC, EBC and handicapped students in 2007-08.

 In 2009-10, as many as 23.91 lakh students benefited from the schemes, he said. The number rose to 23.97 lakh in 2010-11 and in 2011-12 the beneficiaries increased to 23.98 lakh. He assured that the government would soon clear this year's arrears of fee reimbursement in the next few days.

 Tulasi Reddy said that the TDP and YSR Congress have been trying to defame the government by leveling baseless allegations against the government. However, he said students who benefitted from the scheme were aware of the facts and they would teach a fitting lesson to both the parties in the ensuing by-elections.