Protests erupt in IIT Guwahati over massive fee hike

Guwahati: According to protesting students, the semester fee for the regular PhD scholars has risen from approximately Rs 34,000 to Rs 48,000, a sum they say exceeds the monthly stipend. The incoming batch of PhD students is expected to pay Rs 91,000 per semester, up from Rs 58,000 last year. Students allege that mess fee has seen a dramatic rise from Rs 12,000 in 2019-20 to Rs 22,000 now, while the quality and nutritional value of food has declined.Gymkhana fee has doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, Medical fee has risen from Rs 100 to Rs 500. Hostel rent has doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Registration or enrollment has also seen two-fold increase from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 along with authorities charging Rs 1,300 per student per semester as 'fest fee'.

The institute has hiked the fees to support enhanced student welfare and activities, including increased allocations for hostel-level events, cultural and sports festivals, and Gymkhana-led initiatives beyond just Inter-IIT participation. The protesting students refuse to pay extra for amenities that they neither requested nor are benefiting from. 

The protest reportedly did not include a vast group of students but rather a minority, amongst which the official elected student body is not participating.