'Delhi students should get priority in govt-funded colleges'

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today batted for giving "priority" to Delhi students in admissions to DU and other higher education and technical institutions in the national capital, saying the state government spends hundreds of crores of rupees on the varsity.
"There are many options but the sum total is that Delhi students should get priority in admissions at the colleges funded by Delhi government," Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, told reporters.
He said Delhi government is concerned with accommodating about 1-1.25 lakh students in higher and technical education institutions who pass out of Class XII every year.

"We are not concerned whether there should be reservation for Delhi students at DU colleges but the question before us is how to accommodate 1-1.25 lakh students, who pass Class XII exams in Delhi every year, in higher and technical education institutions here," he said.
Each year, around 2.5 lakh students pass Class XII exams of whom half are accommodated in higher and technical education institutions here but the rest have to seek admissions outside Delhi or explore other options.
"Delhi government gives hundreds of crores to DU every year and if students of Delhi get priority there the government will be able to utilise its resources in a better way.

"There are other options like we stop funding DU colleges and open new colleges for Delhi students. Another option could be to give rebate to Delhi students in cut-off marks of say 5 per cent," Sisodia said, adding DU and other institutions were not ready for these options despite his several efforts for the same.

The Deputy Chief Minister also said Delhi government was doing a good job on several fronts and asked the Prime Minister to give credit to the government for it.
"The Prime Minister, especially his office and his party, is not allowing Delhi government to work. If Delhi government does anything good they interfere. It is doing a very good job on schools, hospitals, excise, revenue and other fronts and if he (Modi) is taking credit for some of this, it means he feels good work is being done in Delhi.

"He should give credit to the government for doing good work in the Delhi, why he is afraid of acknowledging it ?" Sisodia said.
He said AAP government supports GST but it will not allow provisions against Delhi traders in the proposed legislation.
"On the broad level we also want GST to come but I will not like provisions which adversely affect traders in Delhi to be there in GST," he said,
The government is getting input from traders in this regard and it will also work to remove their fears about the legislation if required, he added.