Institutes multiply, so are gangs

JAIPUR: The murder of an engineering graduate, Dhruv, who was allegedly running a gang with unsuccessful engineers has highlighted how such gangs are growing parallel to the growth of technical education here.
A sneak into the education hubs -- in Sitapura, Shivdaspura, Jagatpura and Kukas -- you'll find them evolved directly or indirectly into the business of minting money.Even police record reveals a phenomenal rise in crimes for instant cash like chain-snatching, dacoity and robbery in these areas.
TOI spoke to managers of several technical colleges here who quietly admitted that such unsuccessful students indulge in activities like luring students for admission, providing question papers, synopsis and dissertations besides acting as a agent for providing rented accommodations. The latest trend is providing bikes on rent.
These institutes complain that every engineering college is surrounded by 'thadis' which sell cigarette, tobacco and reportedly some opium. "This thadis are being run by local goons as even after our repeated complaints nothing has happened," said a director of a private engineering college. The institutes also don't take any responsibility for any student outside the campus.
Figures say that rate of campus placements in engineering colleges affiliated to RTU is barely 15%, means rest 85% students either remain jobless or goes for higher education or enterpreneurship. Besides, a good number of students drop out as they fail to cope-up the pressure.
Questioning the system, Rajiv Gupta, former head of department, sociology, RU, said: "The genesis of the problem is the unchecked growth of engineering colleges with excess number of seats. The result is even candidates who have no orientation or aptitude for engineering take admission and end-up spoiling his/her life."