SC and ST candidates applying for Eamcet has hit an all time low this year

HYD: The number of SC and ST candidates applying for Eamcet has hit an all time low this year. With authorities insisting on caste certificates with Eamcet applications, several candidates have been unable to apply for Eamcet-2011 even as the last date for application without fine is on March 16.

According to Eamcet authorities, there is a 30 per cent dip in the number of SC/ST candidates this year compared to previous years. The drop in the number of candidates for reservation seats has caused a drop in the total number of applications that reached the Eamcet-2011 office, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) officials said.

While the total number of applications for Eamcet 2010 was around 2.5 lakh two days before the last date for submission, this year the number is as low as 1.5 lakh. In engineering, the number of applications received is 1.35 lakh and for medicine the number is 15,000.

According to students from the city who were not able to apply for Eamcet so far, the tehsildars at various mandals were delaying the process. "I applied for my caste certificate almost two months ago. While I made several trips to the mandal office till date I have not got my caste certificate," said a student from Khairatabad mandal. Students said that if the applications are not accepted without the certificate they will have to shell out money as fine for late submission.

Officials of private Intermediate colleges who submit the applications of their students in bulk said that the Eamcet authorities should not insist on the certificates along with applications. "If students fail to get these certificates on time they would miss an opportunity to write the exam. The authorities should relax the rules," said faculty member of a private junior college.

JNTU authorities, however, said that they made caste certificates mandatory as several OC (open category) candidates had applied under the SC/ST quota in the previous years. "The general category students apply under the reservation tag and write Eamcet. After getting a rank they take admission under management quota in private colleges. We wanted to stop this practice," said D N Reddy, chairman, Eamcet Committee and vice chancellor, JNTU.

The authorities are, however, thinking of relaxing the rule. "We are planning to ask the SC/ST students to submit their applications but turn in their caste certificates later on before the closing date of applications with fine," said Ramana Rao, Eamcet convener.