2 colleges do their bit, fix nominal fee of Rs 10, Rs 500

HUBBALLI: As education becomes more expensive than ever, some colleges are doing their bit to lessen the financial burden on students. The Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (KLES), for instance, is offering Science seats at just Rs 10 as fee for students who have scored above 95%. The seats are being offered at its PC Jabin Science College. Another unaided institution, Sri GP Habib PU Arts and Commerce College, has fixed annual fees at just Rs 500 each for all its students.
Speaking to TOI, KLES' local governing council chairman Shankranna Munavalli said that the fee waiver scheme was launched in 2010-11. "The fees of about Rs 4,000 prescribed by the PU board will be paid by the management. This year, nine students have availed this facility and we want more meritorious students to benefit from this. Over the past five years, 52 students have availed this benefit. We are also providing concessional seats at Rs 10,000 against Rs 60,000 which includes coaching charges for competitive examinations at KLE Prerana College," he said, adding that KLES has many concessions for poor students at all its colleges. "However, concession will be awarded after a thorough verification of the student's financial condition," he stated.
SB Hiremath, principal at KLES PC Jabin Science college, told that fees will be waived off for PU 2nd year also, if students attain over 95% in first year. "If any student is poor but has scored over 90%, then too the management will help them with possible concessions after thorough verification of the case," he added.
Swati Savanur, who availed this concession and is now set to join MBBS, said that the college has always given importance to talented and hardworking students. "I never thought I'll get admission in such a well-equipped college, where infrastructure like library, laboratory and CET coaching is available at just Rs 10," she said. Another student Shraddha H, who had joined this college in 2011-12 and is now pursuing MBBS, said that his dream of becoming doctor would not have materialized if the college had not offered the almost free seat.
Meanwhile, Sri GP Habib PU college has decided to levy fee for Arts and Commerce streams at just Rs 500. College director Madhusa Habib said, "Only pass marks are the criterion. Though college is run by SSK Hitavardhak Sangh, where only Somavamsha Sahasrarjuna Kshatriya community people are members, admission is open for all community students," he affirmed.
Principal Nani Patil said that as of now 30 students have taken admission. "As the last date is June 20, the number may cross 100," he said.
Students Nikhita Jartarghar and Laxmi Hembali said that when money and highest score are criteria in many colleges, this college is taking care of poor students and even those who have just got pass marks.
College president Balu Magajikondi said that Habib has donated Rs 9 lakh for the college building. "Community members regularly donate to the college. They have also taken care of teachers' salaries. With their aid, we are able to help poor and non-meritorious students. Apart from Rs 500, some parents pay additional amount voluntarily. When students pass out from the college, they also donate some amount," he added.