Reserved category students don't get free prospectus this time

Students from the reserved category applying for admission in Delhi University complained of not getting a free prospectus with their forms, unlike in previous years.
They said they had to buy a prospectus in some cases.

“We did not even know that there is a provision to buy the prospectus. It is hot and crowded, and only four to five volunteers are at the help desk trying to address the problems of 400 to 500 students at a time,” said Rahul Kumar, a student.

“There has been no notification about buying prospectus separately. Most of us are outstation students and such things just add to the confusion,” said Kumar. Students are struggling to find out the basic details of colleges, such as their contact numbers, addresses, and maps of South and North Campus.

“With the form, we get an attached brochure of college codes.  “But it is difficult to find out about hostel rules and facilities at various colleges for reserved category students without a prospectus,” said Vinay, another student.

Till last year, forms and prospectus were given free to reserved category students.
“The University Grants Commission gives separate funds to the varsity to hand out forms and prospectus for free. While forms are being given  free, prospectuses have to be bought for Rs 100 if needed,” said Sujit Kumar, union member of Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, which is looking into issues related to reserved category students.

Union members are demanding an equal number of seats to reserved category students compared to general category, if the reserved category students meet the cut-off.

“Usually, what happens in a few courses such as Sciences is that there are more admissions in general category seats due to a larger number of students meeting the cut-off criteria,” said Sujit.

“The rule is that if students meet the cut-off, they have to be admitted even if it means admitting more than the optimum capacity. But if reserved category students of the total strength have nine seats allotted to them, they do not get increased even if more than nine students meet the cut-off,” said Sujit.

According to a senior DU official, the issue of free prospectus not being sold with forms has come to their notice. “We are working on it. We will need some time to change the current admission format,” said the official.