Kerala police used water cannons on Wednesday to disperse a protest by Students Federation of India members in Thiruvananthapuram [1], [2].
The confrontation highlights growing tension between student organizations and educational administrations over the affordability of professional education in the state. Access to lower-cost schooling remains a central point of contention for student activists.
The demonstration took place near the Kerala Secretariat [1]. Members of the SFI gathered to demand the immediate withdrawal of a fee hike imposed on the Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE) and the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) colleges [1], [2].
Police forces deployed water cannons to break up the crowd as the protest intensified [1], [2]. The action was taken to clear the area around the government administrative offices, a frequent site for political demonstrations in the capital.
SFI members had organized the rally to voice opposition to the increased costs of tuition and services at the two affected institutions [1]. The group said that such hikes place an undue burden on students from marginalized backgrounds.
Local authorities have not issued a statement regarding the specific amount of the fee increase or the conditions under which the water cannons were deployed [1]. The protest remains part of a broader series of student-led actions across the region concerning educational funding, and accessibility [2].
“Kerala police used water cannons on Wednesday to disperse a protest”
The use of force to disperse students protesting educational costs reflects a volatile relationship between the Kerala state government and student unions. By targeting CAPE and IHRD colleges, the SFI is challenging the sustainability of the current public-professional education model, suggesting that fee increases may limit social mobility for students in the state.
