‘90% Local Quota in DU’ Proposal Receives Flak

The Delhi Government’s proposal to reserve 90 percent seats in Delhi University (DU) colleges for locals has come under fire.

While the Capital city’s residents have welcomed Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia’s proposal, students from other parts of India have given a thumbs down to the new plan.

"The proposed reservation does not keep up with the spirit of the university. Since it is a central university, we should be welcoming students not only from India, but also from other countries," I.S. Bakshi, principal, Dyal Singh College, told a leading news agency.

According to Saloni Sharma, assistant professor at Kirori Mal College, the proposal is nothing but a populist measure.

"Such reservation makes no sense as a lot of students, especially from the eastern parts of India, look forward to studying at the university, which holds an aspirational value for them. The reservation will simply deny them of that option," she said.

Sisodia is determined to bring about changes in Delhi's education system, which includes 90 per cent reservation for residents of Delhi in DU colleges.

He says, "If people of Delhi are funding these colleges, don't they have a right to benefit from them? While thousands from across the country come and study in DU, our students are forced to go outside. The previous government had also planned on doing something about it, but nothing happened. We are determined to push this through.”

“Each year, more than 2.65 lakh students pass out from schools in Delhi, but only 90,000 get admission in Delhi colleges. I want to create a roadmap for the remaining 1.75 lakh students," he adds.

He also insists the whole process would be based on "merit and not reservation".