Patna: The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna, this year admitted more girl students than previous years.
The increase in number of girl students at NIT-Patna is mainly due to the ministry of human resource development's directive to NITs to create additional seats exclusively for girls to raise women's enrolment.
The ministry last year decided to create supernumerary seats for women to enhance their admission to BTech courses without reducing the seats open to boys. The directive has helped NIT-Patna in admitting more girls. NIT-Patna, dean, students' welfare (DSW), Prakash Chandra said: "This year, around 100 girl students have received admission at NIT-Patna which is around 25 to 30 more than the previous year. The increase in girl students' intake is due to creating supernumerary seats for women."
Sources said in 2017, the overall intake of female undergraduates in NITs witnessed a drop to 14 per cent from 22 per cent in 2016. The drop was the sharpest in older institutions such as Surathkal, Allahabad, Jamshedpur and Patna. Chandra said: "Of 667 students getting admission this year, the number of girl students is around 100."
Chandra added: "Under the supernumerary seats, the number of seats for male candidates has not reduced while additional seats have been added for girls candidates." As per the ministry directive, supernumerary seats was to be created only if the percentage of girl students fell below 14 per cent of its total seats.
A first-year mechanical engineering girl candidate said: "We are witnessing more girl candidates this year at NIT-Patna. There are some girl candidates who have received admission in the mechanical branch despite their JEE Mains score being less than their male counterparts."
Sources said apart from NIT introducing supernumerary seats for women, the strengthening of infrastructure has helped NIT in admitting more students. Samrat Mukherjee, a faculty member said: "We have strengthened our infrastructure. We are providing hostels to all candidates especially girl candidates.
Mukherjee added: "The construction of G+10 new hostel blocks has helped the administration in addressing the hostel issue at NIT-Patna. At G+10 hostel block, we are providing hostel rooms to around 1,250 candidates."
Sources said as NIT has added infrastructure, the institute this year has increased its fee structure. Students will have to pay Rs 15,000 per semester more than the previous year. However, as the tuition fees at NIT are regularised by the Union ministry, no change has been made in tuition fees.