Prime Highlights:
- SFI marked its 56th Foundation Day in Hyderabad, focusing on protecting students’ rights and opposing the commercialisation of education.
- Leaders pledged to continue defending the right to education and employment, especially for marginalised communities.
Key Facts:
- DYFI State Secretary A Venkatesh paid tribute to 277 student martyrs and recalled the first SFI Mahasabha held in 1970.
- Concerns were raised over the proposed Vikasit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025, which could centralise higher education and reduce the powers of state governments.
Background:
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) celebrated its 56th Foundation Day in Hyderabad on Tuesday, with a focus on protecting students’ rights and stopping the commercialisation of education.
The event started with SFI State President S Rajinikanth unfurling the organisation’s flag, reaffirming its core values of independence, democracy, and socialism. DYFI State Secretary A Venkatesh recalled the first SFI Mahasabha held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in 1970, and paid tribute to the 277 student martyrs who gave their lives for the movement. He said their sacrifices continue to inspire SFI’s efforts to defend the right to education for everyone.
Venkatesh also criticised the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), saying some provisions aim to change the education system along specific ideological lines. He expressed concern that the proposed Vikasit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 could centralise higher education and take away some powers from state governments. He also noted that replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC) with a single regulatory body could affect institutional autonomy and democratic values.
The Federation pledged to mobilise students across the country to safeguard education and employment opportunities, particularly for marginalised groups, including Dalits, tribal communities, and unemployed youth. Telangana leaders highlighted their continued opposition to policies against students and promised to step up their efforts in the coming months.
The celebration saw the active participation of SFI State Vice President K Ashok Reddy, committee members Lenin Guvera, former joint state secretary R Arvind, and other prominent leaders, including Sriman, Nagender, Prashant Rajinikanth, and Praveen.
Through the 56th Foundation Day, SFI reaffirmed its enduring dedication to students’ welfare and education rights, underlining the organisation’s historic and continuing role in shaping an inclusive, democratic, and accessible education system in India.
