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Tamil Nadu
By K. Ramachandran
This number includes about 1,520 seats in six government colleges, 2,740 in three aided colleges, in Regional Engineering College, Tiruchi, and the Bharatidasan university college, besides those available in the Anna University. Last year, Tamil Nadu had 229 self-financing colleges with a sanctioned strength of 66,655 seats. These included 71 religious and linguistic minority institutions, with a sanctioned intake of 23,595 seats. This year 81colleges including new institutions applied for `minority' status but the Government is yet to pass orders on the applications, as also on those seeking a `no-objection certificate' from the State for starting new colleges. There is also a distinct possibility of colleges surrendering more than the prescribed number of seats for the common pool. However, even going by last year's figures, the SWS will offer 4,260 seats in government and aided colleges, about 7,000 representing 30 per cent of seats in minority institutions, and about 21,530 seats — 50 per cent seats of non-minority engineering colleges — if the colleges follow the policy announcement. But, the biggest worry for thousands of engineering aspirants and their parents is over the fee. Though, according to a Supreme Court order, the colleges are free to have their own fee structure, the State Government has "advised" the unaided institutions to fix a uniform rate of Rs. 30,000 for all students. But, parents know that "other fees and charges" levied for transport, meals, admissions, examinations, Internet, laboratory use, caution deposit, etc., will cost them another Rs. 15,000-22,000 each year. At least 20 per cent of the eligible candidates cannot pay this fee. Another 10 per cent may find resources for the first one or two years, but drop out later. However, colleges say they are working out concessions for deserving candidates. Some of the charges levied may be declared optional. The unaided college managements, which have grudgingly accepted the admission policy, are meanwhile preparing for another challenging year, with a distinct possibility of over 20,000 seats falling vacant. Last year, more than 14000 seats remained unfilled. Many rural-based colleges know that the only way of overcoming the difficulty is to surrender more seats to the common pool. Still, they may challenge, in some form, the prescription that the `management' quota seats be filled, following reservation rules. Their argument is that the Supreme Court order gives them unfettered rights on admitting students, free of government interference, so long as the process is transparent and merit is adequately taken care of. Significantly, the policy announcement has been set out in seven separate orders, issued by the Higher Education department, dealing with the prescriptions for non-minority colleges, for minority institutions, the reservation issue and mode of admissions, eligibility marks, and the fee structure. Meanwhile, the Pattali Makkal Katchi founder, S. Ramadoss, has urged the Government to fix a ceiling on the fee to be levied by the unaided colleges. Already the colleges are collecting huge amounts in addition to the prescribed fee, he said.
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