Chandigarh: No takers for University seats under AIDS category

[Guest guest]

This year too, no takers for seats at PU under AIDS-cancer category

Chandigarh Though the Panjab University has reserved one seat under the

Cancer/AIDS category in every course of the university and its affiliated

colleges, like last year, this year too it has found no takers.

The brainchild of Vice-Chancellor Prof R C Sobti, the move was initiated last

year in all the departments and affiliated colleges of the university. However,

the response has been poor in both the years.

While a few academics claim it to be an irrational decision, others maintain

that it is because of the social stigma attached to it.

Talking to Newsline, Sector-32 SD College Principal, Dr A C Vaid, said, " No

student has come forward this year to claim a seat under the Cancer/AIDS

category. Even last year, a similar situation had prevailed. Ideally, the seat

should have been reserved for children of parents affected from such a disease. "

Neither the Panjab University has not made much efforts in advertising the

reserved seat nor have they held any programmes to encourage people to come

forward and study at the university.

G K Chatrath, former ADGP, Punjab, and a fellow at PU, said, " Because of social

stigma, people suffering from the disease do not come forward as they lack the

courage to come in the limelight and talk about their disease. Much needs to be

done to break this stigma and we all need to put in efforts. "

Meanwhile, as per the official records only one student had been admitted last

year under this category and it was in UBS, Panjab University. Though the

prospectus clearly maintains that the identity of the student and his/her

particulars would not be revealed, still none has come forward to claim

admission.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/this-year-too-no-takers-for-seats-at-pu-\

under-aidscancer-category/490076/