Editorial
Admission trade menace
It threatens to swamp the academia
THE diabolic interference by Chhatra League in the admission process of many educational institutions, from colleges to universities has become the order of the day, much to the chagrin of the citizenry. Given that the BCL, by its vicious involvement in the admission process, may have minted a huge sum of money, to the tune of one crore by one estimate, and that too, only from three colleges of the capital, it is no surprise that such lucrative business is being conducted -- thanks to the impunity leash. And to cap it, it is alleged that some teachers may have got involved in the trade, a few under pressure and some on their own volition.
We are only too familiar of the goings on in this matter. Some of the colleges had to stop admission under the diktat of the BCL because the college authorities would not consider the list drawn up by the BCL, under a most despicable description of 'political quota,' for admission. And yet we have not heard the AL taking action against these so-called student leaders.
Such a state of affairs demonstrates corruption in its most pernicious form foreboding a very bleak scenario for the country's standard of scholarship and learning. One wonders whether the political parties and the college and university authorities, some of who have expressed their utter helplessness to do anything to dissuade the BCL cadres from interfering in the intake process, realise the immense damage that's being wreaked on the moral fabric of the country. There is no competition, and merit has been shown the door; many with poor result are managing admission by paying huge sums to the student leaders.
We are in a state of moral decay that may not be easy to correct, and this situation has not come about in a day. It has evolved over the years where the cadres were given a long leash. They went about their business unimpeded and some were even rewarded for the use of their muscle power, and taken for an investment into future. The issue is far more serious than many would like to admit. It has very deep and long term implications for the nation. And there are very compelling reasons for all of us, particularly the political leaders, to do a bit of soul searching and roll back this sinister trend in scrounging money from ever newer pastures.
For the political leaders it is not enough to merely express regret. They cannot exonerate themselves from their responsibility for the prevailing situation. What we see happening in the colleges and universities is the result of inaction over a long period, which one suspects might have been deliberate in some cases.
The ruling party must act decisively or else risk a situation that might go beyond redemption, if it hasn't already.
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