Hyderabad: In a major escalation of the ongoing dispute over pending fee reimbursements, 52 pharmacy colleges affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH) across Telangana have boycotted their first-year B Pharmacy end-semester examinations. The indefinite strike, led by the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Education Institutes (FATHI), comes in protest against the state government's failure to clear long-pending fee-reimbursement and scholarship dues. The boycott began on Tuesday, with participating colleges refusing to conduct exams, citing heavy financial strain caused by the government’s delay in releasing funds. College managements claim that the unpaid dues have severely affected salaries, laboratory maintenance, and the overall functioning of institutions. The protest is part of a wider movement, as nearly 2,000 professional colleges in Telangana, including engineering, pharmacy, and MBA institutions, have temporarily shut down to demand the immediate release of funds. According to JNTUH data, while 52 pharmacy colleges have formally joined the strike, the overall participation among private educational institutions is extensive. Officials reported low attendance from students at the few centres where exams were held. Managements revealed that the state government had earlier promised to release ₹1,200 crore before Diwali, but only around ₹300 crore has been disbursed so far. The total reimbursement pending is estimated at around ₹10,000 crore, and colleges have urged the government to release at least half of the amount immediately, along with a timeline for clearing the rest. In response to the crisis, the Telangana government has formed a 15-member committee headed by Special Chief Secretary (Welfare) Sabyasachi Ghosh and Principal Secretary (Finance) Sandeep Kumar Sultania. The committee, which also includes educationists like Prof Kancha Ilaiah, Prof Kodandaram, and three FATHI representatives, has been tasked with designing a sustainable “Trust Bank” model for the state’s fee-reimbursement scheme. The panel is expected to submit its report within three months. The Times of Indiareports that FATHI has announced that the strike and exam boycott will continue until their demands are met. It has also planned large-scale demonstrations, including a rally at LB Stadium on November 8 and a “Long March” to the State Secretariat on November 11.