"For the benefits of Goans, Goa government has put in special efforts to start National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Furmagudi - Ponda in Goa Engineering College campus from this 2010 academic year. Subsequently Goa government will give a suitable land to NIT - Goa to start their independent campus in Goa". This was publicly informed few days back by Chief Minister of Goa as well as by Goa's Member of Raj Sabha at various public functions held in Goa. They had also mentioned that as per NIT rules, from this 2010 academic year, out of total 90 in take capacity of NIT - Goa, 45 seats will be exclusively reserved for Goan students i.e. 50 % reservation for Goans. Goa's Member of Raj Sabha had also informed Goans that 18 seats that were reserved for Goan students (for not having our own NIT in Goa) at various colleges around India will continue for 2 more years even after starting NIT - Goa.
But to the utter disappointment, Goans have now located in NIT - Goa guidelines that the reserved 45 seats are actually reserved for the students of Goa PLUS students from Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. This means that Goans are deprived of their exclusive share of 50 % reservation! Reliable source under condition of anonymity confirmed to me today that central education ministry has already scrapped the allocated 18 seats from all India colleges and that only 20 seats out of 45 reserved seats at NIT - Goa are reserved from Goan students while balance seats i.e. 25 seats are reserved for students from Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. He also confirmed to me that this arrangement was conveyed to Goa government in writing much before finalization of NIT - Goa and that too during registration process of NIT at Goa. And yet our chief minister and raj sabha member are trying to deceive the Goans. Further he questioned me asking "under these conditions will Goans allow Goa government to give land to NIT - Goa only because Goans have benefited with 2 additional seats at NIT - Goa i.e. 18 rightful reserved seats for Goa at all India colleges + 2 additional to make total reservation of only 20 seats at NIT - Goa as against rightful 45 seats i.e. 50 % reservation for Goans". This is a very serious issue that needs immediate attention from Chief Minister of Goa. Will he find time to give justice to Goan students from this 2010 academic year by ensuring 50 % reservation of seats at NIT - Goa? Above issue is recently taken up by Goa Hitrakhan Manch with Chief Minister & Raj Sabha member from Goa, including director of technical education and NIT - Goa. Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
