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Chandrakant Patil

Maharashtra Ministers Highlight Key Initiatives on Republic Day

Health Minister and Kolhapur’s Guardian Minister, Prakash Abitkar, distributed six ambulances for primary health centers and three vaccine vans to enhance healthcare services in Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts. Abitkar emphasized the need for public awareness to combat misinformation and fear surrounding diseases, urging media platforms to spread accurate information. He also called for the proper maintenance of these vehicles to ensure timely healthcare access, particularly for mothers and children in remote areas. Sangli Encourages Women Entrepreneurs Sangli’s Guardian Minister, Chandrakant Patil, supported women-led self-help groups (SHGs) by purchasing items worth Rs75,000 from 75 stalls at an exhibition held alongside the Republic Day parade. Patil announced that these items would be donated to children in observation homes, showcasing a commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting social welfare initiatives. Satara Leads in Development with Rs153 Crore Allocation State Tourism Minister and Satara’s Guardian Minister, Shamburaj Desai, unveiled ambitious plans to boost tourism in Satara, including water sports at Munavale, Koynanagar, and Rasati, a flower plateau at Kas, and the Sahyadri Tiger Project. Desai highlighted the district’s efficient use of funds, with Rs153 crores allocated through the District Planning Development Plan for innovative schemes such as the Ideal Primary Health Center and “My School, Ideal School.” He assured further funding efforts for 2024-2025 by engaging with the CM and DCMs to accelerate district development. These initiatives underscore Maharashtra’s focus on healthcare, women’s empowerment, and sustainable district development, setting benchmarks for other regions in the state. Source: Times of India

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Maharashtra’s Free Education Scheme Spurs 44,198-Girl Enrollment Boost

The Maharashtra government’s free education scheme has achieved a transformative milestone, with girl admissions in degree, diploma, and postgraduate courses increasing by a staggering 44,198 in the academic year 2024–25. Officials have hailed the rise as “phenomenal,” reflecting the scheme’s success in making education more accessible to girls from economically weaker backgrounds. Pooja Kamble, the daughter of an auto driver and now an MBA student in Pimpri, credits the scheme for enabling her to advance her career. “The free education scheme allowed me to pursue my MBA after working for two years post-graduation. This degree will help me grow in my career,” Kamble shared. Implemented by the higher and technical education department earlier this year, the initiative covers girls from families with an annual income of up to ₹8 lakh. It includes professional courses like engineering, law, pharmacy, and management. According to data from the state CET cell, girls secured 173,434 out of 597,277 seats in 2024–25, a significant increase from last year’s 129,263 out of 414,713. The surge is most notable in MBA, law, engineering, and technology courses. Experts have praised the scheme while acknowledging areas for improvement. Professor Ramdas Jhol of Dattakala Educational Institute remarked, “The scheme has significantly increased girls’ enrollment, despite initial confusion in its rollout. With revisions, we expect even better outcomes next year.” Former Higher Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, under whose tenure the scheme was introduced, expressed pride in the results. “This initiative aligns with Maharashtra’s legacy of championing women’s education, inspired by Savitribai Phule. It’s a proud moment to see our daughters achieving new milestones,” he stated. The scheme is expected to further reshape Maharashtra’s educational landscape, encouraging more girls to pursue technical and professional fields, fostering empowerment and opportunity. Source: Hindustan Times Photo Credit: Hindustan Times

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Maharashtra Unveils ‘MAHASWAYAM’ Portal for Online Higher Education Courses

The state government of Maharashtra is gearing up to launch ‘MAHASWAYAM,’ a dedicated portal for higher education courses. Drawing inspiration from the central government’s SWAYAM portal, ‘MAHASWAYAM’ aims to create a comprehensive platform for online courses, aligning with the evolving landscape of education. Chandrakant Patil, the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, chaired a meeting on Friday to deliberate on the effective implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in the state. Professor Shailendra Deolankar, the Director of Higher Education, underscored the active involvement of state universities in offering online courses. To ensure inclusivity for all students, the decision was made to launch ‘MAHASWAYAM’ as a state-centric portal. Under the NEP, students now have the flexibility to pursue online courses for minor subjects, earning valuable credits towards their final scores. Addressing concerns related to academic calendars and fees on the existing SWAYAM portal, Deolankar emphasized that ‘MAHASWAYAM’ aims to provide a holistic solution for both students and administrators. “To implement this initiative, the state government has formed a consortium comprising Yashvantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Savitribai Phule Pune University, University of Mumbai, and Shivaji University, Kolhapur. Over the next three months, the consortium will collaboratively design the portal, focusing on courses related to Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS),” said Deolankar. Minister Patil stressed the importance of leveraging social media for information dissemination, urging the department to comprehensively update the web portal in multiple languages. Additionally, he directed the creation of a dedicated Twitter handle for the Higher and Technical Education Department to ensure regular updates reach a wider audience. The imminent launch of ‘MAHASWAYAM’ is anticipated to reshape the higher education landscape in Maharashtra, offering students a versatile and accessible platform for online learning.  

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