NIFT Students protest against 'Fee HIke' amid COVID-19 Pandemic

According to the media reports, for new sessions, NIFT at its 16 centres across the country is charging the Non-NRI category from Rs 1,18,050 to Rs 1,52,850 for one semester fees. The students allege that the institute has hiked its fees.

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) students are protesting against the exorbitant fee amount of the institute amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. Where Indian government institutes are celebrated to provide affordable education in the country as compared to their private counterparts, NIFT is charging fees in lakhs from the students enrolled with the institute. According to the media reports, for new sessions, NIFT at its 16 centres across the country is charging the Non-NRI category from Rs 1,18,050 to Rs 1,52,850 for one semester fees. The students allege that the institute has hiked its fees. The fee for seventh and eighth semester, last year was Rs 1,14,350 and Rs 1,01,050 respectively as compared to Rs 1,31,600 and Rs 1,13,200 for the same semesters this year.

Mr Dhruv Jatti from Bangalore Student Community who is actively fighting for the cause says, "The NIFT issue has inspired many across the nation. Students have now finally begun questioning authorities as to why they are paying the same fee they were paying when classes were being conducted physically." Some students are also writing to NIFT authorities regarding pay cuts and job losses their parents are facing during the pandemic. A demand for 30% reduction in the fees is proposed.

"Twitter storm was organised on 3rd of August and hashtags were made to trend for the rollback of fees (hike). They tagged everyone, from PMO to Smriti Irani, but we got no response. Instead, NIFT authorities warned students of their Social Media Policy," shares Shreya, AISA Delhi EC member.

According to NIFT’s policy, students can't talk against the institute on any social media platform. Due to the policy, students are making their concerns and demands heard via various anonymous accounts.  According to the reports, Bangalore Student's Community wrote a letter to MP DK Suresh who later sent the letter on to Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani. As a form of protest, students in different centres also resorted to boycotting online classes as a form of protest, calling it off on August 6. The protest will be resumed if their demands are not met by August 15.

Read More:

• NIFT Delhi Courses & Fees 2020
• NIFT Delhi Admission 2020