Toll free number for admissions in undergrad and post grad courses.

Somdatta Basu | TNN | Jun 3, 2016, Kolkata: The West Bengal higher education department has set up a toll free helpline number for all candidates seeking admissions to the various undergraduate and post graduate courses in the state.

The helpline will be kept active till the end of the admission season in July.

The department has also issued a structure against institutes taking donation from students wanting to take admissions.

"The students can lodge complaints against any concerned authority whenever it indulges in unfair practices," said a senior higher education department official.

The government has also prohibited all student unions in the colleges from opening help desks outside the gates to assist candidates while taking admission in colleges and universities.

"Though the admission process is entirely online in order to bring transparency in the system, till last year we had found ample allegations that several colleges unions that were coercing prospective candidates to give them money by opening assistance desks. There are several students who can't operate the internet. As a result, when they arrived at the college campus to seek help in filling up the forms, help desk members belonging to the students union took money in lieu of assisting the candidates," added the source.

To put an end to such problems, higher education department has barred setting up of the help desks.

Candidates taking admissions have also been cautioned from falling into trap incase anyone wants to lure them to give money in exchange of an assured seat.

"Not only is the entire admission process online but all the transactions will be through the banks. If any candidate is forcefully restricted from entering into the campus or checking the merit list, they can call on the helpline number provided by the government," said another source in the department.

The helpline will be operational from 10am to 6 pm everyday, except on Sundays.

The number on which candidates seeking help can call is 1800 103 7033.

Education minister Partha Chatterjee has already spelt out a word of caution for all the student organisations managing the unions.

On Wednesday at the state education secretariat Bikash Bhavan Chatterjee said, "there will be no compromise in the admission process. It will be online for both UG and PG courses. The admissions will be transparent."