By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: “There is nothing to cheer about for the State as far as allotment of seat in the National Institute of Technology (NIT) is concerned,” said UDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit.
Basaiawmoit said this on the eve of foundation stone laying ceremony of the institute’s permanent campus at Saitsohpen village in Sohra on Friday. Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal will lay the foundation stone.
According to Basaiawmoit, since all India pattern of population distribution would be applied for allotment of as many as 90 seats in the NIT , Meghalaya will not be benefited much from this institute.
As per the all India policy, while 50% of the total seats will be allotted for the State which sets up NIT, only 7% seat will be reserved for the tribal population of Meghalaya.
The remaining 50 per cent seats will be filled up under open category.
The UDP legislator said that with Meghalaya having more than 80% tribal population, the all India pattern cannot be applicable to the State.
“If we follow the all India pattern only four tribal students from Meghalaya (7% of 90 seats) will be accommodated in the NIT,” Basaiawmoit said.
In addition to this, there are seats reserved for scheduled castes and other backward class (OBCs).
According to him, the Meghalaya pattern of population structure where majority are indigenous people should be followed when it comes to seat allotment.
The UDP legislator urged the State Government to take up the matter with the Centre.
