Engineering students from northeast unsure about future

Uncertainty looms large over the fate of over 45 students from north-east nominated this year for pursuing engineering degree in various private colleges in Maharashtra as they have been denied admission following expiry of admission date.

Though the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has fixed August 30 as the last date of admission, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) fixed it on August 15 following a Supreme Court order last year stating that 'No student should be admitted under any quota in any institution after the last date'.

"To the dismay of the many students from the region selected for admission in various technical colleges of Maharashtra this year, they have been given rejection letters from the directorate of higher and technical education of that state for seeking admission after August 15," All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) president Sika Gapak disclosed.

The Arunachal Pradesh higher and technical education director (DHTE) had sent some of the candidates who cleared joint entrance examination (JEE) to colleges in other parts of the country.

However, the Maharashtra DHTE refused to admit some students of Arunachal on technical grounds, the ANSU president informed.

While the Arunachal Pradesh DHTE had fixed August 30 as the last date of admission, its Maharashtra counterpart armed with the court order had closed admissions on August 15.

More than 45 students from all over north-east including 10 from Arunachal are stuck for admission till now, he said. Many parents criticised the AICTE for not informing the NE states in advance regarding the last date of admission.

"We had no idea about the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the last date for admission. And if it had been the case, MHRD should have let us know, or at least the DHTE, about the change in the schedule. We are in a fix now," said Tap Tapuk, father of a girl seeking admission in one of the universities in Maharashtra.

"However, the college authorities have told us that the admission can be done if the students can bring in recommendation from the MHRD for seeking admission. Or else there is no other way," informed the disappointed father.

According to official sources, the DTHE here had written a letter to the MHRD apprising of the situation.

Moreover, the AICTE has filed a review petition with the apex court, sources added.

The Arunachal Students Union Mumbai has meanwhile, informed that both the Lok Sabha MP's of the state has assured of appraising the situation to the MHRD and solve the problem at the earliest.

In a release, it further questioned the state directorate of higher and technical education for keeping the students as well as their parents in dark.

"It is their irresponsible behavior which has led to the problem. The students and the parents have been harassed with much incomplete information. They should contact their counterparts and clear the air of uncertainty and miscommunication, it alleged.

Also questioning on the dispatch of stipends for the students studying in Maharashtra, it said that many students are not getting their stipends despite of the fact that the stipends were released almost two months back.

State Education Minister Bosiram Siram on August 18 last assured ANSU to look into the matter, Gapak informed. The union has also urged the state government to pursue the Maharashtra government to address the situation immediately.

PTI