The economically backward classes (EBC) unions have decided to take up agitation programmes in all the districts from the second week of January next year to bring pressure on the government to release funds for scholarships and fee reimbursement scheme for ECB students.

Over 10 lakh EBC students had submitted their applications earlier this year and are awaiting state help.Lakhs of students who joined various professional courses like engineering, pharmacy, medicine, MBA, MCA this year are being pressurised by college managements to pay up.

Students complained that college managements are threatening to bar them from appearing for semester exams if fees are not paid soon.  This academic year will end after three months.

The fee reimbursement scheme for EBC students pursuing professional and other higher education courses was introduced for the first time this year along with those for students from BC, SC, ST and minority categories. However, the government was undecided on which department to entrust with processing applications of EBC students till October.

Finally, it was decided to handover the responsibility to BC welfare department though it expressed its inability to complete the process speedily as it was already burdened with over 20 lakh BC applicants.