Forget refund, Restart course'

While political parties demand that Air Hostess and Hospitality Academy return fees, students just want to continue their studies

The Assembly elections have just concluded, but political parties are still trying to score brownie points among citizens. After the standoff involving the Air Hostess and Hospitality Academy (AHA) has left many students in the lurch, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has demanded the institute refund fees to the students.

The Shiv Sena too joined the protest after the MNS agitation drew a lot of attention. Sachin Pawar, MNS vice president for the city, said, "The institute should refund fees to all present and past students. If they don't, we will intensify our protests."





Resolve issue
However, 50 out of the 75 students, who were pursuing the Diploma in Hospitality Management course for 2009-10, said they want the course restored and not the money and have even submitted a letter to the Shivaji Nagar police station.

Abhishek Lamrud, who joined AHA in May, said, "We pray that the course is restored with the old staff and that the management resolves the salary issue." Kirti Hemgude and Akshata Savant added, "We demand that the promises mentioned in the prospectus are fulfilled, including Cambridge certification, in-flight and foreign language training."

Shyam Ghatkar, Mayur Pande and Pravin Londhe, who paid over Rs 1 lakh for the course, said, "We have invested one academic year. No refund can compensate that loss and our dreams of joining the aviation industry."
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Shantanu Dev travelled from Tripura with dreams of getting into the aviation industry. "I am 24 and time is ticking away. I joined the course because I am passionate about a career in aviation. I am keeping my fingers crossed."