Thrissur: With the completion of the second allotment for plus-one admissions, more than 60 per cent of the reserved seats for economically backward students in the upper caste are still vacant. Out of the total 19,798 seats, 11,889 are vacant.

This high number of vacancies is due to the 10 per cent reservation policy for economically backward sections not included under Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backward Classes (OBC).

The main reasons cited are the complexity involved in obtaining the required Income and Asset Certificate, which must be submitted along with the application and a general lack of awareness about the EWS reservation scheme.

After the first allotment, 9104 people got admission under the EWS reservation. 10,694 seats were left. After the second allotment, the number of vacant seats increased to 11,889. This reservation is vacant in the final phase after the third allotment. Then these seats will be moved to the general section.

As a result, the reservation will not benefit students who are eligible for the benefit. Teachers point out that more awareness needs to be created among students and parents about EWS reservations.