Maharashtra Government Introduces free education to EWS, SEBC, OBC girls

Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Maharashtra government announced on Monday that higher education for girls belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) will be provided free of charge. The scheme will be applicable to orphans, irrespective of their gender. This is initiated to boost the enrollment of female students in professional courses such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, and many more.

According to the information in the state budget announced on Friday, the government decided to set aside Rs 2000 crore every year for the scheme, which applies to girls seeking admission to professional courses in the state through common admission process rounds (CAP). The benefit will be extended to both diploma and degree students in these domains.

The decision will be implemented from the academic year 2024–25 and is expected to cost around Rs 906 crore. The government said that girls seeking admission in professional courses through CAP in government colleges, semi government colleges, private colleges, government universities, and open universities can avail of the facility.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said that the decision to set aside a substantial financial provision will give wings to the aspirations of many girls in the state. The state already has Rajarish Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulk Shishyavruti Yojana to provide financial assistance to students belonging to lower classes. Earlier, girls from the OBC, EWS, and SEBC categories received 50 percent of the fee reimbursement. As per the government, girls who have already applied in the previous batch will submit a fresh application.

While the scheme was announced, it received mixed reactions. While some welcomed the decision happily, some students demanded that the government directly pay the fee at the time of admission instead of reimbursement, pointing out past delays in reimbursement.

In the state budget Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Mininister Ajit Pawar announced many schemes for women which included Mukhyamantari Annapoorna Yojana, Mukhyamantari Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and many more to which the opposition party has questioned the source of funding for these schemes and claimed they are aimed to attract women voters ahead of the state assembly polls.

Some notable tweets are the following:

Praful Patel, Working President, Nationalist Congress Party, “This is a significant step as the Maharashtra Government announces free higher education for EWS, SEBC, and OBC girls, empowering them to pursue vocational, technical, medical, and more courses starting from the 2024–25 academic year. This transformative initiative opens new doors of opportunity, fostering equality and progress. Together, we build a brighter future for our daughters”, he tweeted.

A significant step as the Maharashtra Government announces free higher education for EWS, SEBC, and OBC girls, empowering them to pursue vocational, technical, medical, and more courses starting from the 2024-25 academic year. This transformative initiative opens new doors of…

— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) July 10, 2024

Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) praises the move made by Maharastra Government and said “proud of Maharashtra for taking a progressive step towards girls education. Free higher education will break barriers and build futures. #EducationForAll”

Ashok chavan (@AshokChavanINC): Tweets “Education is the key to empowerment. The Maharashtra government’s decision to provide free education to girls from economically weaker sections is commendable. This will ensure that no girls is left behind. #GirlPower”

The scheme has also sparked discussions about extending the same benefits to boys belonging to low-income families. After the announcement, Maharashtra education minister Patil assured the advocation made by boys and told them that their demand will surely be considered by the Chief Minister.

This initiative by the Maharashtra government promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment and helps the family fulfill their dreams of educating their daughter. By investing in the education of girls, Maharashtra is also investing in the future of society. Organizations and NGOs have also extended their support, with many offering to collaborate with the government to ensure the successful implementation of the program.