File pictures of students at the science lab in Stewart Science College and (above) Christ College in Cuttack.

Bhubaneswar, June 13: Minority institutions are planning to reduce the share of seats set aside for the students of minority communities after the 25 per cent reservation provision failed to yield results.

Christ College and Stewart Science College, both fully government-aided colleges in Cuttack, had a provision of 10 per cent reservation for the minority students. However, last year, the state government increased the quota in such institutions from 10 per cent to 25 per cent following the introduction of e-admissions at the Plus Two level.

The direction stated the balance seats from the reserved category would be de-reserved after the first selection and available for general students. This year, the department extended the provision for degree classes as well, reserving 25 per cent seats in each stream in both the colleges.

However, college authorities said the reserved seats did not find enough takers last year and that they are apprehensive that the seats would remain vacant this year, too.

Therefore, they are contemplating a reduction in the quota. “Last year, we managed to fill up only 10 per cent of the total reserved seats. Though the balance seats were transferred to the general quota, things were delayed and we could not fill all the seats. So, we are considering to revert back to the old reservation plan from next year,” said principal of Christ College Snigdha Mishra.

The Plus Two seat matrix in Christ College is 384 for science, 256 for arts and 256 for commerce while for Plus Three, it has 250 seats for arts, 192 seats for science and 128 seats for commerce. In the 10-per cent quota system, there was reservation of 6 per cent seats for Christians, 3 per cent for Muslims and 1 per cent for students from other minority communities.

“Our priority is to get good students. The experience of 25 per cent reservation has not been very good. It needs to be reduced to 10 or 15 per cent,” said Snigdha, adding that the proposal has already been put before the college governing body.

Stewart Science College authorities, too, are worried about filling up the reserved seats this year. It has 150 seats both for Plus Two and degree classes. “We had a 10 per cent quota for Christian students, but when it was increased to 25 per cent, we did not get enough students. This time, we are trying to bring out advertisements, so that students of the Christian community come to know that such a provision exists,” said principal of Stewart Science College Debasish Pradhan.

Pradhan said 10 to 11 per cent seats from its reserved category had been filled up last year.

Official sources said there were three minority colleges in the state. Besides Stewart Science College and Christ College, there is another institution in the city for Muslims called Makam College.