Chandigarh: It's admission time in Panjab University here and one particular seat in each of its departments is drawing a big response - those reserved for girls who are the only child of their parents.

The special category for the single girl child was introduced by the university this year to help combat male preference among people in the region - Punjab has one of the worst sex ratios in India at over 800 girls per 1,000 males.

"The Panjab University syndicate had approved a seat for the single girl child for admission to each course in the university last year. The girl would have to, however, fulfil other eligibility conditions for admission," Nishtha Jaswal, Dean of students welfare (DSW)-women, told IANS.

"It is a remarkable decision and will certainly discourage female foeticide as well as give respect and dignity to girls," added Jaswal.

So good has the response been that many departments have been forced to put up a waiting list against this single reserved seat.

"We have received around 20 applications for this single reserved seat. Though this provision has been introduced for the first time, the response is very encouraging," said Sunil, an official of the department of mass communication here.

Panjab University, one of the oldest and leading universities of northern India, has around 60 teaching and research departments which includes post graduate as well as under graduate courses.

"In our department, there are 12 applicants under this category and the admission will be on the basis of merit. There is an obvious need to increase the number of seats in the single girl child category in view of the response we are getting," stated an official of the chemistry department.

The English department has prepared a long waiting list for admission to this seat while the response at department of sociology and social work is also very encouraging.

"The last date for submission of applications has already passed but we are still receiving queries from parents and girls for this category," said Gaurav Gaur, a lecturer in the department of social work. IANS