After five tense days of confrontation and classroom chaos, peace finally returned to Telangana’s higher education sector late Friday night, November 7th. The Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI) called off its indefinite strike after the state government agreed to clear ₹600 crore in reimbursement dues, meeting the federation’s key financial demand. FATHI had originally demanded the release of ₹1,500 crore.
The breakthrough came after a series of back-channel talks and a late-night press conference by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who announced that the government had already released ₹600 crore, would release another ₹600 crore immediately, and clear the remaining ₹300 crore within a few days.
Soon after this assurance, FATHI president N Ramesh Babu announced the suspension of the strike and the withdrawal of all planned protests, including Saturday’s proposed rally at LB Stadium and the "Chalo Secretariat" march slated for the following week.
"We thank the government for responding positively to our request. All colleges will reopen, and examinations that were postponed will resume as per the revised schedule," he told reporters.
Private professional colleges had been on strike since November 3rd, demanding the immediate clearance of fee reimbursement arrears running into thousands of crores. Nearly 2,000 institutions — including engineering, pharmacy, MBA, and B.Ed colleges —had shut down, leaving lakhs of students stranded and the entire examination schedule in disarray.
The agitation had reached a flashpoint by Friday, with college managements threatening to go ahead with a massive protest rally despite the police denying permission.
However, the government’s conciliatory move, coupled with strong words from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy earlier in the day, changed the tone of negotiations.
Revanth Reddy had earlier slammed the private college managements, warning them against "holding students hostage" to extract funds. "If they think they can arm-twist the government, they are mistaken," he said. "Education cannot be turned into a business empire. We will not tolerate blackmail in the name of education."
He went further, hinting that some managements were being "politically backed" to embarrass the government. "I know who is behind this. I can turn students against you if I wish— but I won’t, because I hold a responsible position," he said, underscoring his resolve to protect students’ interests while upholding transparency.
The Chief Minister also ordered a financial scrutiny of private institutions, including how donations, tuition fees, and management quotas were being handled. "We will look into how some colleges have been exploiting students," he remarked, vowing to reform what he called a "broken ecosystem."
The government's decision to release ₹600 crore immediately effectively neutralised the protest, restoring calm to the state’s education sector. For thousands of anxious students, this means a return to classrooms and examinations. While FATHI leaders expressed gratitude, they also urged the government to ensure that future reimbursements are made on schedule. "We’ve reached a resolution, but timely payments are essential for colleges to function effectively," said a senior FATHI representative.
The settlement came after a high-stakes week of rhetoric and brinkmanship. Revanth Reddy’s strong words might have set the stage for a resolution, but it was the Deputy Chief Minister’s late-night intervention that brought about the truce.
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