Brahmin, Reddy, Vysya students highest from GHMC limits

Hyderabad: Students from upper-caste families with less income have applied for EWS certificates to utilise it in the ongoing MBBS admissions where the seats are very limited compared to other professional UG courses. Kaloji Narayana Rao University for Health Sciences (KNRUHS) received 890 applications under EWS quota, counselling for which would be held later.

When it comes to GHMC limits, most of the EWS certificate applicants belong to Brahmin, Reddy and Vysya communities as well as some sub-sects from Muslims and Christians. Even, some students belonging to communities from different parts of India who have made their base in Hyderabad and are into business and trade mostly in the old city have also applied for EWS certificates, according to Revenue officials.

It may be mentioned here that NDA government passed a bill in January facilitating 10 per cent reservation to upper caste poor in Civil posts and services as well as education irrespective of caste and religion.

Telangana government is issuing EWS certificates to eligible students through concerned Mandal Tahsildar based on the residence address provided in the Aadhaar certificate. After applying through Meeseva centres, these certificates are being issued in a week or 15 days.

According to a Tahsildar from a Mandal in Hyderabad, they have issued nearly 10 to 15 certificates in June month. On average, if ten applicants are applying for EWS certificate, two or three applications are being rejected as they are found to be ineligible as per the criteria fixed by the government.

Tahsildars were given authorisation by the State government for issuing of Income and Assets certificates for reservation under Economically Weaker Sections quota.Persons whose family owns or possesses any of the following assets shall be excluded from being identified as Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) - if the family income is in excess of Rs 8 lakh annually or family having 5 acres agriculture land and above or residential flat of 1000 square feet and above, a residential plot of 100 square yards and above in GHMC limits or residential plot of 200 sq yards and above in rest of the municipalities.

Also, the property held by a family in different locations or different places would be clubbed while determining eligibility for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) status. Revenue officials said the EWS certificate would be valid for one year from the date of issue of such certificate or valid for one academic year.

Earlier EBC (Economically Backward Class) certificates were given for students from upper caste by the Telangana government and they were eligible only for some jobs and admissions in the State. The EWS certificates can be utilised across India as in the case of ongoing MBBS admissions where students can apply under this quota in colleges across India, they said.