In a significant development, the Maharashtra government declared on July 9, 2024 that higher education will be free for girls from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
This initiative, designed to promote women’s education, was decided during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Furthermore, tuition and exam fees for orphaned students of both genders will be waived, according to a government resolution (GR).
Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, the scheme is projected to cost Rs 906 crore. According to the GR, female students who apply to recognized vocational courses through the Centralised Admission Process in government, aided private, semi-aided private, and non-aided colleges, as well as polytechnics, autonomous government universities, and open universities, will get benefits from this initiative.
The courses included in this scheme span higher and technical education, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, and dairy development.
However, students from private autonomous universities or self-funded universities, as well as those enrolling through management and institutional quotas, are not eligible for the scheme. To qualify, female students must come from families with an annual income of Rs 8 lakh or less and belong to the EWS, SEBC, or OBC categories. This scheme will benefit both new admissions and current students pursuing their degrees.
In the state budget, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar introduced several other schemes, including the Mukhyamantri Annapoorna Yojana (providing three free gas cylinders to women), Mukhyamantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana, Mukhyamantri Krishi Pump Yojana, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (offering a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women aged 21 to 60), and a comprehensive scheme for free education for women.
While the opposition has questioned the funding sources for these initiatives, suggesting they are aimed at attracting women voters ahead of the state assembly polls, Chief Minister Shinde has emphasized that the schemes are backed by financial provisions and are intended to be permanent.
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This initiative, designed to promote women’s education, was decided during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Furthermore, tuition and exam fees for orphaned students of both genders will be waived, according to a government resolution (GR).
Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, the scheme is projected to cost Rs 906 crore. According to the GR, female students who apply to recognized vocational courses through the Centralised Admission Process in government, aided private, semi-aided private, and non-aided colleges, as well as polytechnics, autonomous government universities, and open universities, will get benefits from this initiative.
The courses included in this scheme span higher and technical education, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, and dairy development.
However, students from private autonomous universities or self-funded universities, as well as those enrolling through management and institutional quotas, are not eligible for the scheme. To qualify, female students must come from families with an annual income of Rs 8 lakh or less and belong to the EWS, SEBC, or OBC categories. This scheme will benefit both new admissions and current students pursuing their degrees.
In the state budget, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar introduced several other schemes, including the Mukhyamantri Annapoorna Yojana (providing three free gas cylinders to women), Mukhyamantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana, Mukhyamantri Krishi Pump Yojana, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (offering a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women aged 21 to 60), and a comprehensive scheme for free education for women.
While the opposition has questioned the funding sources for these initiatives, suggesting they are aimed at attracting women voters ahead of the state assembly polls, Chief Minister Shinde has emphasized that the schemes are backed by financial provisions and are intended to be permanent.
The post appeared first on .