SoBo kids need quota to get into SoBo colleges as they’re from middle class, can’t afford to travel: MLA

Even as the quota system in education continues to receive its fair share of criticism, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA has demanded that south Mumbai colleges admit students living in the vicinity on priority basis.

According to an Asian Age report, the demand was put forth by BJP MLA Raj Purohit, who claimed to have received multiple complaints from parents about their children having to travel to the suburbs.

The politician has therefore, citing the abundance of local colleges, demanded that at least 25 percent of the total seats available in south Mumbai colleges be reserved for those who reside in south Mumbai itself.

“People residing in areas like Thakurdwar, Chira Baazar, Fanaswadi, Koliwali, Kalbadevi, Mumbadevi, Vhuleshwar, Dhobitalao, Pydhoni, Colaba, Fort, Marine Lines, Mohammed Ali Road, Bhatbazar, Umarkhadi, Mandi and Bhendi Baazar are mostly from the middle class and cannot afford the travelling expenses,” Purohit was quoted saying.

“The students almost always have to travel two hours which is stressful and tiresome, especially for girls, if they are travelling late in the evening,” he added.

Incidentally, some popular south Mumbai colleges like St. Xavier’s, Jai Hind and HR already have reservations in place, limiting the number of open seats.

Despite that, the six term member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has said that he would put forth the 25 percent reservation demand in the assembly to ensure local students are not inconvenienced.

In the past, Purohit has been elected from Mumbadevi constituency four times and twice from the Colaba constituency.

This report has been covered in a shortened or ‘Snippet’ format to ensure the most important piece of information is relayed in the shortest possible time. If the story develops further or more relevant information becomes available, we will expand it into a full length article.