Now use FB, Gmail accounts for college admissions in Rajasthan
Though left with no option, college authorities have expressed shock, saying the directive has made it difficult for them to identify fake application forms.
If you want to fill up a college admission form but do not have an identity document, do not worry. You can use your Facebook account to fill up the form, according to a directive issued by the Rajasthan college education department.
The education department, in its admission policy for 2016-17, has allowed Aadhaar and Bhamashah cards as well as Facebook and Gmail accounts for ‘single sign on identity’ (SSOI) registration. Earlier, only Aadhaar and Bhamashah cards were allowed for SSOI registration.
The move has come at a time when the Centre is trying to make Aadhaar card mandatory to avail of all essential services.
“During a training for the online admission process held in the state capital in May, participants were informed that the college education department has this time allowed Facebook and Gmail accounts for SSOI registration,” said Lalita Mehta, principal of the Government Girls College in Barmer. “We have informed the students about this.”
Taking advantage of this facility, thousands of students have filled up forms using Facebook accounts. Mehta, however, said that it cannot be figured out how many students have used Facebook accounts for SSOI registration.
“I was worried as I don’t have an identity card. Government’s new directive – recognising Facebook and Gmail accounts as identity documents -- solved my problem,” said Praveen Singh Mithi of Barmer.
PR Choudhary, principal of the Barmer government college, said, “We have informed students about the college education department’s directive. Many students have used this option.”
After new norms for SSOI registration were decided, a workshop was organised at the Government Girls College Barmer in which officials from the information and technology department and e-mitra operators participated. E-mitra operators were guided on SSOI registration with Facebook and Gmail accounts.
Though left with no option, college authorities have expressed shock, saying the directive has created new hurdles for them. “Anyone can generate a fake Facebook account. In such a scenario how we can differentiate between fake and genuine application forms?” asked a college official, refusing to be identified.