Mumbai: Students belonging to the general category applying for the First Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions will not get a chance, as the state has increased reservation of seats under different categories. The state has initiated 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha students and 52 per cent quota for SC/ST/NT (nomadic tribe) students, leaving no room for students of the general category.
In the FYJC admissions, 20 per cent seats are reserved for in-house students,10 per cent for the students of the economically-weaker section (EWS) and 5 per cent for management quota.
In addition, the state has initiated a government resolution (GR) claiming 52 per cent seats for SC/ST/NT and 16 per cent seats for Maratha students. The total reservation is gone up to 103 with no room left for students belonging to the general category, who wish to secure FYJC admissions.
Students claimed it is unfair as a large number belong to the general category without any specific social or caste-based reservation. Ritika Sharma, a student, said, “I do not belong to any caste or social quota and wish to secure admission through the general category.
In fact, I am not even an in-house student, as I want to secure admission in another junior college. But how can I get admission if there are no seats allocated for us?” The students further said the Maratha reservation should be decreased or eliminated completely. Shantanu Mahadik, a student, said, “Why is there a special reservation only for Maratha students?
We understand we belong to Maharashtra, but FYJC is a secular platform where students from different boards, castes, social and economic backgrounds wish to study basic college level education. No special privilege should be given as there are a large number of students belonging to the general category.”
Authorities of the school education and sports department (SESD) responsible for managing FYJC admissions claimed the state government will make amendments in the resolution. A senior SESD officer said, “The total reservation has reached 103%. The state will reduce the reservation to 100 per cent.”
