BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government is working on a proposal which seeks to not only optimise admission in Government engineering colleges but also give meritorious but financially weaker students the opportunity to study in such institutions.
The proposal stipulates deposit of Rs 30,000 as part-payment of admission fee with the Odisha JEE, and not with the colleges, by putting in place a structure where students will get adequate chance to remain or opt out of the system. To discuss the proposal, the OJEE authorities had a meeting with Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan here on Tuesday. As per the proposal, the JEE admission will follow the pattern adopted by Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) as well as those by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The proposed system is a departure from the existing counselling structure where those registered for admission are called to nodal centres for verification. After verification, seat allotment is made and candidates are allowed to decide. In the reformed plan, the OJEE will make a temporary allotment and those selected will be asked to take part in counselling and deposit the part admission fee. So, this will not compel all the candidates to appear at the nodal centres.
The deposited fees will remain with OJEE till the completion of the third phase of admissions when the candidates can pay the rest to the colleges in which they get enrolled. This method will also provide students the option to change colleges during the three phases of admission. In case, they withdraw from the admission system, they will be refunded their part admission fee.
The admissions into the colleges will be done on the basis of rank upgradation and final admission list will be published only after the conclusion of all three phases of counselling. The system is mainly aimed at reducing vacancies in Government engineering colleges where withdrawal by candidates after selection into IITs and NITs leave the seats with no takers.
‘’There are meritorious students who are financially weak to take admission in private colleges. This method will eliminate the superficial admissions and enable their admission in Government colleges through upgradation of ranks,’’ Chairman of OJEE Tushar Kant Nath said. Besides, private colleges will also benefit as seats will not remain vacant till the last moment. This apart, they also have the liberty to conduct admissions on their own for the vacant seats after the end of the three-phase counselling.
The Odisha Private Engineering Colleges’ Association (OPECA) greeted the plan on the grounds that it would spare candidates the hassles of making rounds of nodal centres. However, the body said the Government should have included the private colleges in the decision-making process. ‘’The court order says that OPECA must be represented in such matters,’’ secretary Binod Dash said. The proposal will be discussed at Chief Secretary’s level before being sent to the Government for final approval.