JEE: 2nd chance for SC/STs

BHUBANESWAR: The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Committee, which has announced allotment for the engineering programmes, came up with new procedures to facilitate admission of SC and ST candidates as well as those poor students seeking tuition fee waiver (TFW). Now students under SC and ST category can have a second chance to alter their allotment. The JEE body will offer them an opportunity to seek from vacant seats if they want a change in the allotment. After the initial allotment, if they want a change, they will be allowed to select from the vacant seats, JEE Committee Vice- Chairman Dr Sitaram Mohapatra said. Similarly, new SC and ST candidates will also get a chance to take part in the counselling process. Those who have not yet taken part in the web-based counselling, can come in and seek admission. The JEE body has earmarked two days - August 24 and 25 - for them to register themselves and get their documents verified.“The twin initiatives have been chalked out to ensure that the seats reserved for the SC and ST students are exhausted since it gives them more flexibility and time for admission,” Mohapatra said. There are over 7,000 seats on offer for the reserve category students in engineering branches. Similarly, the JEE panel has also brought in changes for TFW category students. Those, who have applied and opted for TFW, will get an option to seek a better seat available from the payment category. They can give their final choices between August 20 and 23. About 4,000 students have sought TFW so far. After the Orissa High Court’s direction for adherence to the AICTE norms of eligibility, the JEE body came out with the schedule of counselling and subsequent admission. While the first round allotment has been made, an intermediate allotment will be announced on August 28 and final round will be held on September 2. Between September 3 and 6, part admission and fee deposit will be carried out for newly-allotted candidates while reporting at the institutions will be done between September 7 and 10, Mohapatra announced.