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Women Empowerment

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

Leave a Comment / By / Education Community

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

Maharashtra Govt Announces Free Higher Education for EWS, SEBC, OBC Girls in State

Leave a Comment / By / Governance Community

In a significant move ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Maharashtra government announced on Monday that higher education for girls from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will be made free. According to officials, this initiative is part of a broader women-focused policy. The decision, which also includes waiving tuition and examination fees for orphaned students regardless of gender, was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The policy change was formalized through a government resolution (GR). Rs 906 Crore Aid for Female Students The decision will be implemented from the academic year 2024-25 and is expected to cost Rs 906 crore. A GR stated that female students seeking admission to recognized vocational courses through the Centralised Admission Process in government colleges, aided private colleges, semi-aided private colleges, non-aided colleges, polytechnic, and autonomous government universities, and open universities can avail the facility. Wide Range of Courses Covered, Specific Eligibility Criteria Outlined These include courses run by departments such as higher and technical education, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, and dairy development. However, students from private autonomous universities/self-funded universities, and those enrolling through management and institutional quotas will not be eligible for the scheme. The GR said female students whose annual family income is Rs 8 lakh or less and who are from EWS, SEBC, and OBC are eligible for the fee waiver. New admissions as well as students currently pursuing their degrees will also be eligible for the scheme. Opposition Questions Funding for New Schemes In the state budget, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced several initiatives including Mukhyamantri Annapoorna Yojana (aimed at giving three free cylinders to women), Mukhyamantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana, Mukhyamantri Krishi Pump Yojana, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (eligible women in the age group 21 to 60 years will get a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500), and a scheme to provide free education to women. The opposition has questioned the source of funding for these schemes and claimed they are aimed to woo women voters ahead of the state assembly polls. However, Chief Minister Shinde has stressed that monetary provisions have been made for the schemes and the initiatives will be permanent.