Chennai, June 06: Kartikeya B couldn’t find a proper job after completing an aeronautical engineering course. At 26 today, he works with his uncle who is into the business of engineering admissions.
I walk into Kartikeya’s T Nagar office as a North Indian aunt seeking admission details for a nephew in Kolkata, and he rattles off, “You decide which college, madam. It all depends on your budget.We have been in the business for 1820 years. Any college accessible, including Anna University.”
The name board at his Damodaran Street office suggests Kartikeya is a recruitment consultant for aviation companies. He also runs www.2010admissions.com that promises to ‘help’ students and parents with educational opportunities. Sensing my befuddlement over the exorbitant rates and a college of choice, he advises, “See madam, colleges also have to make a living. They have to pay the companies who campus-recruit their students.”
Also, Kartikeya reiterates, no company will recruit from a college that doesn’t pay it well. “So no point blowing up Rs 8 -10 lakh in a college that won’t fetch your nephew a job worth Rs 3 lakh (annually). Settle for a lesser known college.” Kartikeya later sends me a test mail. I eagerly ask for the ‘rate card’. The tout, in his reply, is prompt with the list (See attached story) – split into two: Top 1 colleges (up to Rs 8 lakh) and Top 2 colleges (Rs 5 lakh and downwards).
Later, after a visit at the offices of Kartikeya’s uncle and a couple in the same pocket, I visit Sathyabama Engineering College. You can’t enter inside unless you have the marksheets and the student. A watchman, well versed with the college practices, has a separate ledger for admission seekers from the country’s north and south.
While those from up-country meet the director, the southerners go through the admission offices.The watchman even scrutinises the marksheet. “With 65 per cent score, you can’t hope to get admission in the top courses. You can try for CSc, though,” he advises.
–Agencies–