Scholarship dues of 3K SVU hostel students pending

Tirupati: Scholarship amount of 3,000 hostel students of the Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) is pending for the last six months. Reason for keeping scholarship pending was lack of 100 per cent attendance. The State government gave directions to the Social Welfare Department to release monthly scholarship only if students have put up 100 per cent attendance. 

Though the intention of the government to ensure cent per cent attendance is good, but several students could not attend classes due to health and for some other reasons. Students, who are staying in hostels, are economically poor and depend on scholarships to pursue their studies. 
The varsity is running 7 messes to provide food for graduate and post-graduate students.

Every month, a mess bill of Rs 1,100 to 1,250 is being generated for each student. Students are not able to pay monthly mess bills from their packets as they are poor. On behalf of students, the varsity officials have taken up the issue with the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) authorities in Amaravati. The APSCHE officials have assured the SVU officials of resolving the pending scholarship issue within 2 months. However, the problem was not resolved. 

The SVU is providing food for students with their own funds for the last six months. The varsity may stop providing food to students at any moment due to mounting financial burden. Students have to suffer if messes were closed. 

Responding over the issue, SFI district secretary B Madhav Krishna told The Hans India that students have submitted representations on several occasions for officials concerned. The students are urging officials of the Social Welfare Department to release pending scholarship dues as early as possible.