Raising slogans, the protesters said unaided institutions were catering to a large number of students despite rising operational costs and the lack of government assistance.
“We want the government to recognise the contribution of unaided institutions and provide the support required to maintain educational standards,” federation president Sunilkumar R. Hudgi said.
The federation sought financial assistance under Article 371(J) of the Constitution on the lines of the Vidarbha model. It also demanded KKRDB assistance for schools established after 1995 and inclusion of eligible institutions under the grant-in-aid system.
The protesters sought government grants for laboratories, classrooms, smart boards, benches, and compound walls, as well as simplification of the renewal of recognition process.
Other demands include free electricity for unaided schools and exemption from property tax for institutions within Gram Panchayat limits. The federation also requested that the Additional Commissionerate of the Education Department in Kalaburagi be upgraded to a full-fledged autonomous Commissionerate.
“Our demands concern the basic functioning of schools and the quality of education we provide. We will continue the agitation until the government responds,” Mr. Hudgi said.
Representatives of private educational institutions from the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka are participating in the agitation in phases, the federation said.