The seat squeeze just got worse

The 70:30 rule restricts the number of students who can get admission to colleges outside the city district they live in. Ensure that there are good institutions spread across the city before implementing the rule, agitated students and parents tell Speak Up

Students will be deprived of equal opportunities
When I was pursuing college studies at St Xavier’s, I used to live in Juhu. This meant having to take a bus from Juhu to Santacruz station and then a train from Santacruz. Our college was at a walkable distance, about 15 minutes, from the station. It was a little tedious to travel thus to college every day but it was worth it. Xaviers is after all one of the most reputed colleges of Mumbai.

I think the education department has a good reason for coming up with the idea of an admission ratio but it is not going to work here.

Such a rule when implemented in countries like the US—where good colleges are scattered across the states—works quite well. But every locality in Mumbai does not have colleges providing quality education. This in turn means that students will not have equal opportunities. I don't think such decisions should be taken without considering the fall-out. Also the decision should be debated and not taken arbitrarily.
—Shabana Azmi. Actor

I am not in favour of the 70:30 rule
The decision to implement the zone ratio in junior colleges should be properly planned and not implemented in a haphazard manner.

The stress and anxiety that students and parents undergo during the admission process is far greater than what they experience during exams.

Any decisions pertaining to admissions and results should be made clear to parents and students in advance.

If the state education board does implement such a rule, it’s not going to go down well with the students or even colleges. Admission should be purely on merit. If you decide on admissions on the basis of the place of residence you kill the spirit of education. Students who are lucky to live in areas with good colleges might also tend to get complacent and lazy. Education is given so much importance in India that parents are ready to relocate to better their child's educational prospects. 
—Swati Salunkhe, Director, Growth Centre

Don’t get swayed by college profile
Initially any change will seem to create confusion. At this point in the year’s admission process, the 70:30 ratio rule can't be implemented anyway. The government circular has not even reached various colleges. If they insist on it, it will lead to a lot of avoidable trauma among students.

Most students anyway have secured college admissions. And for those who are waiting to get through, the rule could cause a lot of stress. If the government was serious it should have put out the circular much before, when the CBSC and ICSE results were declared. I am in favour of this rule if it is implemented methodically. Travelling has become a nightmare in this city. Trains, buses and even a private vehicles are loaded. I always believe that a child's school or college should be close to home. Instead of opting for a distant high-profile school or a college, we should opt for institutions closer to our homes. More than the school or college premise, the learning and the faculty should matter. With other kinds of reservations also on, the whole admission process is getting stressful. But the rule is being enforced in the interest of students and I think they should reconcile themselves to it. If a student residing in the suburbs wants to get into a college like St Xavier’s then he/she will have to score really well and be amongst the 30% who will get admission. This ratio system is followed in the US as well, where people relocate to get their children accommodated in a high school they desire.  
—Snehalata Deshmukh. Ex-Vice Chancellor, Mumbai University

Why not reduce ratio to 50:50?
There is a good reason behind this decision. It happens quite often that students living in certain areas do not get admission to neighbourhood colleges because the seats have been taken by children from other parts of the city. A lot of South Mumbai students therefore end up going to the suburbs to study.

Schools have zoning laws because they keep children safe during natural calamities such as floods. They are not left stranded in their schools or on roads. We live in Borivali and I am glad my daughter got into NM College at Vile Parle. But safety issues apart, I do feel that this ratio is extreme. Why not reduce it to a 50/50 ratio, which would ensure equal opportunities to applicants? 
—Sonal Shah. Parent

I’ll settle only for the best for my child
We live in Powai and my son, who is in the 9th std, wants to do engineering. The best colleges for science are Ruia and Ruparel, so we will try our best to get our son into one of these. This new rule is not practical at all. Good colleges are not distributed equally across the city. Suburbs are short of quality institutions and most students want to go to town for college.

Seats are anyway squeezed by other kinds of reservations and the cut offs point is rising higher every year. Look at the tremendous pressure the admission procedure will exert on students and parents. I don't mind if my son has to travel a long way to college but the quality of the institution he studies at is not negotiable.
 —Falguni Biswas. Parent

It will be unfair to ambitious students
Colleges were informed about this new rule at the 11th hour when the first merit list was already out and most admissions were through.

Also we do not have the kind of software required to implement this rule. So it is very difficult to implement it at this juncture. Our first merit list is out and we have students from all over Mumbai taking admission in our college. It is purely based on merit.

I personally feel that the new 70/30 rule is unfair to students who are seeking to get admission to the best college in their chosen subject and are not lucky to live near the institution. It can be a barrier to the growth of ambitious students. The new rule will also squeeze the number of seats. But as an institution we have to abide by the rules laid down by the education department. We cannot give admission to students as per own whims and fancies. It is now up to students and parents to voice their reservations on the topic.
—Kiran Mangaonkar. Principal, Mithibai College

It is an arbitrary decision
I'm in 10th std and plan to study art. In Mumbai, there are only two good colleges for Commercial Art—JJ and Rachna Sansad at Prabhadevi. This move will cause me problems because I live in Borivali. With the levelling of percentages, it has already become difficult for average students to get admission. And now this. The government doesn't care about students and takes arbitrary decisions without taking our views into consideration. With the level of competition getting tougher, it should be taking steps to make our lives easier, not more complicated.
—Omakar Chendvankar. Student

We'll shift to reduce travel
I’ve secured a good percentage in SSC as I studied hard. I always wanted to get into a reputed college no matter how far. I live in Borivali and I’ve got admission to Ruparel college in Matunga. The commute will be tiring but I can manage. The 70/30 plan is quite unfair to students living in the suburbs because most good colleges are located south of Bandra. My parents who worry for my safety are of the opinion that my college should be near home. They are even planning to shift from Borivali to Dadar to help ease my commute. That way I get more time to study. 
—Renuka Denkar. Student

The rule will work for me
This rule is going to benefit students because now they will not have to travel long distances. I’ve secured a seat in National College in the first list itself but I'm trying for Mithibai as I live in Santacruz. Since the rule is being talked about before the second list, I can only hope that it works in my favour and I get admission in my desired college. I think parents will be relieved if their children are spared long college commutes. It’ll also give students more time to study. But to have to shift to an area just to get into a college is a tough proposition.
—Nidhi Juthani. Student