H-K reservation challenge for diploma admissions this year

Officials managing the admission process for diploma courses are facing a challenge this time due to the inclusion of Hyderabad-Karnataka (H-K) quota as they will have to carefully monitor the several clauses and sub-clauses.

To accommodate the additional quota, the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has decided to revamp its software for the admission process for 2014-15.

On Monday, DTE director H U Talawar held a meeting with principals of polytechnic colleges and the joint directors concerned on roping in experts who could re-develop the software for the admissions. The directorate will have to formulate the ratio of seats as per the provisions of Article 371(J) of the Constitution. Accordingly, for the admissions this time, the officials have to develop a customised system for the six districts in the H-K region: Gulbarga, Yadgir, Bellary, Bidar, Raichur and Koppal.

In effect, 70 per cent of the available diploma seats in these districts will be reserved for local candidates and 30 per cent for students from other districts, from 2014-15.  Further, in the 70 per cent, 50 per cent will be for SC/STs and OBCs and the other half for general merit. The same rule will apply for filling seats for the remaining 30 per cent of seats. In addition to this, in regions other than the H-K region, while 92 per cent of the seats will be open for all students, eight per cent will be reserved for H-K students.

“The admission process will be challenging this time. There is two more months’ time. We have requested all polytechnic college principals to come up with a list of experts in the college. A committee has also been constituted at the joint directors’ level,” he said. Till now, experts from SJP Polytechnic were managing the software for diploma admissions. “They have told us they will not be able to continue it. Hence, we have asked colleges to submit a list,” he said. Counselling will be conducted at 12 nodal centres. The DTE might take monetary help from the Karnataka Examinations Authority for printing of applications and for procuring computers for the counselling at these centres, apart from seeking financial aid for Internet facility. 

Infrastructure

The DTE, which is responsible for maintaining infrastructure in government engineering colleges, has sent a circular to all the government colleges, asking them to furnish their requirements for infrastructure. Out of the 10 government engineering colleges, four colleges in Hoovinahadagali, Karwar, Raichur and Gangavati are being taken care of by the VTU. The other six are under the DTE.

Increase in intake

As of now, there is no proposal to increase BE seats through lateral entry, Talawar said. Last year, there were about 15,000 seats available under lateral entry, out of which 11,000 were filled. “All seats in government colleges and reputed private colleges are filled every year. The vacant seats are usually in private colleges that do not have adequate infrastructure,” he said.