Mysuru:  Strongly condemning the authorities for forcing the SC/ST community students to pay admission and exam fee, which was free earlier, students of Maharani’s Degree College for Women staged a demonstration under the banner of All India Democratic Organisation (AIDSO) in front of Crawford Hall here recently.

“The SC/ST students were not required to pay any admission or exam fee until last year. But now the University and Government authorities are asking the students to pay the fees, which has become a huge burden for poor students coming to the college from neighbouring villages. Also, most of the students are not getting student scholarship, which has only compounded their problem”, they argued.

Claiming that the authorities are now suddenly asking them to pay the fees without any prior intimation or giving time, the protesters demanded that the SC/ST students be exempted from paying fees as in the past.

The students called off their demonstration after the University of Mysore Registrar (Evaluation) N. Nagaraj who arrived at the spot, assured the students that their demands would be brought to the notice of the higher authorities and action will be taken within a week.

AIDSO Office-bearers Chandrakala, Nitin, Swathi, Hema, Chandrika, Anjali, Abhishek and others were present during the protest.