Rewa: NSUI protests mandatory bus fee at PM Excellence College

Student union submits memorandum to Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla, warns of large-scale agitation if fee structure is not revised within 10 days.

The PM Excellence College (Model Science College) in Rewa has been hit by a wave of student unrest over the mandatory imposition of bus fees. On Tuesday, members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) took to the streets to protest against what they termed "forced collection" from students who do not even utilize the college transport facility.

Memorandum handed to Deputy CM

Led by NSUI District President Pankaj Upadhyay, a delegation of students met with Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla to voice their grievances. The representatives submitted a formal memorandum detailing the financial burden being placed on the student body. The meeting, which took place late yesterday, saw the Deputy CM listen to the concerns, though students are demanding immediate administrative action rather than just verbal assurances.

Limited infrastructure, high charges

The core of the dispute lies in the college's limited transport infrastructure. According to NSUI leaders, the number of buses available is nowhere near sufficient for the total student strength. "The college has a very limited number of buses and the capacity is low. Furthermore, the buses are proposed to run only in two rounds," Pankaj Upadhyay told reporters. He argued that under these circumstances, making the fee compulsory for every student—regardless of whether they live nearby or use private transport—is logically and ethically flawed.

Pressure on middle-class families

The student body pointed out that the flat fee structure is hitting those from economically weaker sections the hardest. Many students enrolled in the Model Science College come from rural pockets of Rewa and nearby districts, often relying on bicycles or public transport to save costs. "Imposing a uniform bus fee is an unnecessary financial load on poor and middle-class students. It is simply not justified," a protesting student said.

Demand for "Pay-per-use" model

The NSUI has demanded that the college administration shift to a voluntary fee model. The union’s stand is clear: bus fees should only be charged to those who actually opt for the service. They have called for a transparent registration process where students can sign up for the transport facility at the start of the semester, rather than having the amount bundled into the general tuition and development fees.

Ten-day ultimatum for administration

The protest has concluded for now, but the atmosphere remains tense on campus. The NSUI has issued a strict 10-day ultimatum to the college management and the district administration to resolve the fee disparity. Union leaders warned that if no concrete decision is taken within this window, hundreds of students will launch a "forceful agitation" across the city.

Local authorities confirmed that they are looking into the fee structure of the PM Excellence College to see if any middle ground can be reached. For now, the ball is in the administration's court as students wait for the 10-day deadline to expire.