Pvt engg colleges hunt for rankers

Confusion still prevails on management quota; GOs yet to be revised

BH Ramakrishna

Stringent measures have failed to rein in the private engineering colleges which are said to be brazenly enticing the rankers. This was brought to light as tens of rankers have been getting calls from the representatives or brokers of private colleges, offering them seat in whichever branch they want. "Seat guarantee�price negotiable" was the message from the brokers. This was despite AP Higher Education Council's reported move to keep the personal details of the rankers confidential.

They have been contacting the rankers and even their parents by phone, in some occasions personally, telling them their rank and making a campaign for their institution. They are reportedly doling out some special concessions in fee, transportation and even promising them placement arrangement after completion of their course. Most of the colleges in Greater Hyderabad are said to be involved in this job, it is learnt.

How could these middlemen contact the rankers if the personal details were kept confidential? It's possible with the connivance of some of the staff members of Council or anyone who conducted the Eamcet, an official told The Hans India. But he hastened to add that the 'hunt' for better rankers has come down a bit this year which was rampant in the last few years. It is also possible with the help of some top rung coaching institutes, as most of the rankers from their institutes only, the official explained.

In fact, as per the norms, no college should contact, promise or unofficially give seat to any ranker- either in convener or owner's quota- before they give an advertisement in news dailies in the stipulated time. But this was never followed in recent past as colleges have been after candidates from the day one after release of Eamcet results. Colleges which thrive on reimbursement amount are mostly resorting to this kind of unfair practices, an official said.

Be that as it may, many parents have been in a state of confusion as there was no clarity over filling up of seats under management quota. While majority of private colleges are insisting that no online system is possible, government has made it clear that all admissions will be made in online mode only. The Minister for Higher Education Damodara Rajanarasimha has even announced that the GOs 66 and 67 would be amended suitably for the same. But till date there is no progress on the issue, according to sources. As the counseling date draws near, parents have been awaiting some kind of announcement from the authorities. But nothing has happened so far.

Unable to get clarity, many parents have already been contacting elite and top rung colleges and, according to highly placed sources, even "reserved their seats". Parents expressed readiness to pay Rs 3-7 lakhs per annum, depending on the branch and college, it is learnt.

Parents worry was if the government tightens the screw and makes online admissions compulsory, what will happen to the careers or their wards and also their money. The college managements were learnt to have assuring them that nothing to worry on that count and even if the Council block the admissions for some time, it would release it later after collecting some paltry amount of Rs 13,000 per admission.

Meanwhile, the Higher Education Council is mulling over extending the date of first phase counseling-scheduled to commence from June 17- as the fee fixation issue and the issuance of GOs for online admissions are yet to take a shape. Since the results of Jee Advanced are to be declared on June 23, the schedule may be changed accordingly, sources said.