City colleges sound tout alarm
College principals are cautioning students and parents against touts, who promise them admissions for a hefty fee. Every year, desperate students fall prey to touts who take up to Rs 1 lakh on the pretext of getting them a seat in the college of the student’s choice.
College principals are cautioning students and parents against touts, who promise them admissions for a hefty fee.
Every year, desperate students fall prey to touts who take up to Rs 1 lakh on the pretext of getting them a seat in the college of the student’s choice.
Last, year touts were arrested outside N.M. College in Vile Parle and Jai Hind College at Churchgate. “Thankfully, the student approached reported them to us,” said Kirti Narian, principal, Jai Hind. “Parents should not fall for this. Even students of management quota seats [five per cent of the total] have to have a minimum percentage.”
Science students have a minimum of 75 per cent and commerce and arts have a minimum 60 per cent cut-off for the management quota.
Principals assured that with 95 per cent of admissions being online, the chances of getting a seat through any other means is impossible. Principals are the only ones who can admit students for the management quota. Touts target coveted colleges where students with low percentages strive to get in.
“None of these touts can ensure admission,” said Naresh Chandra, principal, Birla College, Kalyan. “Such desperate measures lead to nothing.”
Conmen use various ways to convince students of their clout in colleges. “Sometimes, security guards are paid to say they know the right people, but none of it is true,” said Pradeep Kulkarni, principal, Ruparel College, Matunga. “A person will walk into the principal’s cabin, ask something irrelevant and then walk out and tell the parent that he has spoken to the principal and vanish with the money.”