Implement free pass order: Students to Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Student leaders and representatives of various institutions met CM H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday to submit a memorandum demanding implementation of the decisions taken by the Siddaramaiah government post-budget for the welfare of students. Free bus passes for students and free education for girls until post-graduation in government institutions were offered by the previous government, but nothing has been implemented yet as authorities have said that the government had not issued an official notification.

For Kalyan Kumar V., an eighth semester mechanical engineering student at University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, the journey to ensure free bus passes for him and his counterparts has been a long one. “Earlier, we got support from various organisations including AIDSO to bring more students, majorly from Northern Karnataka regions, pursuing higher education here, to put forth our demands. The budget announcement in February on free passes for students gave us some hope, but BMTC officials asked us to pay the regular amount for bus passes for this academic year. It would be a great relief if the government implements the decision as we are struggling to survive with education loans. It will save us more than Rs 1500 per month," he said.

The memorandum submitted by the All-India Democratic Students Organisation urged the CM not to drop the decision that was to be implemented from June, as per the 2018 budget announcement. Leaders explained to Mr Kumaraswamy how the decision was taken after protests were held across the state. After meeting the CM on the sidelines of a felicitation event held at National College, Jayanagar , AIDSO state vice-president Ravinandan B.B. said the CM promised to hold a meeting with officials from transport and finance departments to discuss the issue . "We demanded that the state government to issue a circular to validate last year's bus passes till the new ones are issued this year. We also requested for full 12-month pass, instead of the present 10-month validity as semester students need passes throughout the year," he said.

Free girl education an equal concern: Student leaders
Following a positive response from the chief minister, women representatives met him again on Tuesday asking him to implement the decision of providing free education to girls till post-graduation.

Shishira Rao, a second year commerce student at New Fort PU College, said that it would help her chase her dream of completing post-graduation, which will stabilise the financial condition of her family. 

State secretary of the All-India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghathan (AIMSS) S. Shobha and Bengaluru district president Harini handed over the memorandum during the Janata Darshan programme held at Krishna, CM's official residence.