Human chain protest over donations and capitation fees

CHANDIGARH - A human chain was organised here Tuesday to protest the huge capitation fees and donations charged by various educational institutes and to sensitise people about the issue.

Scores of people from various walks of life gathered here at Sector 17 plaza, the commercial hub of Chandigarh, on the call of a city-based NGO Sanjivani to become a part of this human chain.

“This is our way to protest the practices of giving donations and huge capitation fees in education sector. We want to create awareness against these evils that are gradually eating away right talent,” Manmohan Garg, chairman of Sanjivani, told reporters.

“Education is for all and it does not discriminate between rich and poor. We have to take this initiative ourselves as only we can stop this practice. It is just like a dowry, in fact more than it for a short-term relation of two to four years with institutes.

Participants in the human-chain were carrying placards, posters and raising slogans against donations. They also organised a street play against heavy capitation fee being demanded by schools and colleges.