Date:15/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/15/stories/2008091559580900.htm

Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi refutes PMK charge

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Sunday refuted Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss’ allegation that the State’s higher education policy had benefited only the rich, saying various measures taken by the government had widened the scope.

In a statement here, Mr. Karunanidhi said the abolition of the Common Entrance Test had ensured that higher education had reached all sections, especially rural students.

He said that during 2006-07, 24,670 rural students had joined engineering colleges, while the number increased to 34,069 in 2007-08.

This academic year, 50,058 students got admission. This positive trend was evident even in the admission to arts and science colleges.

Reservation

Mr. Karunanidhi said separate reservation for the Muslims and the Christians had the desired effect. “In 2005, only 610 Muslim students could join engineering colleges. But in 2008, their number has gone up to 2,565. As for the Christians, the figure has increased to 2,757 from 861 in 2005.”