Activists' fast unto death against fee hike gains support

ALLAHABAD: Various organisations have extended their support in the ongoing indefinite fast being staged by activists of Abhibhawak Ekta Samiti against the persistent hike in the school fees. Even parents of the children joined and assembled at the Subhash Crossing in Civil Lines and extended their support.
Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Chandra Tripathi, Member of Legislative Council said that the principals and managers of the schools are hiking the school fees, which is breaking the financial backbone of the parents.He assured the activists of Abhibhawak Ekata Samiti that even the teachers associated with Madhyamik Shikasha Sangh (Sharma Group) have extended their support to the indefinite fast.
State general secretary of Abhibhawak Ekta Samiti, Suman Goswami said that education is the basic fundamental right of the citizen. But, there are certain vested interests, who are just busy in commercialisation of education and are busy in exploitation of the parents.
Members of Bharat Uday Sewa Sansthan have also castigated the attitude of the schools that are just busy in hiking the fees. They have extended support to the ongoing strike. Activists affiliated to national youth revolutionary front have also opposed the hike in school fees.
Vijay Gupta, state president of Abhibhawak Ekta Samiti asserted that they would continue their struggle till the principals of the schools are forced withdraw the hike in fees. He said that convent schools have increased the school fees by about 30% to 40% in 2009. The management once again hiked the school fees by about 25-30% in 2010 and 2011.
Pointedly, parents have also assembled at the Subhash Crossing. They have put their signatures urging the principals to withdraw the hike. About 1,200 persons have put their signature demanding immediate rollback of the hiked fees.