The hunger strike, which marks the second phase of the protest, started on 6 August against a Rs 5,000 hike in the hostel fees.
The institute had said that they needed to increase the amount from Rs 2,000 to Rs 7,000 to build more hostels and academic buildings due to a sharp increase in its strength.
The tuition fees for new PhD students, meanwhile, was hiked from Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000. In the case of new MTech students, tuition fees rose from Rs 5,000 per semester (after a partial tuition fee waiver) to Rs 30,000 per semester.
A day after the hunger strike started, the institute defended its decision saying that it needs to “adjust its charges to stay alive and grow,” reported NDTV.
“The majority of our students realise that the government cannot keep subsidising them beyond a point. IIT-Bombay is trying to convince the remaining few students to stop the stir by talking with them,” read a statement by the institute.
Source: https://www.thequint.com/news/education/hunger-strike-against-indian-institute-of-technology-bombay-fee-hike-day-four-students-get-more-support
