In one of the major developments, Maharashtra has announced a new policy to provide free higher education for girls belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).This initiative aims to promote education and empowerment among girls from these communities, ensuring they have better access to higher education without financial barriers. The policy is part of the states efforts to improve educational opportunities and social equality.The decision to waive tuition fee and exam fees for the orphan students was taken after the cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The decision will be implemented from the academic year 2024-25, which will cost approximately Rs 906 crore to the government.Who will get the benefitAs per government resolution, female students can use the facility to apply for admission to recognized vocational programs through the Centralized Admission Process at government colleges, polytechnics, autonomous government universities, open universities, and assisted and semi-aided private colleges. These consist of classes offered by departments of higher education and technical training, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, and dairy development.However, the students from self-funded or private autonomous universities, as well as those enrolled through institutional quotas and management will not be eligible for the program.The government resolution further said that the female students from EWS, SEBC, and OBC who have an annual family income of Rs 8 lakh or less are eligible for the free remission. New admissions as well as the students who are currently seeking education will be eligible for the program.On the other hand, the Opposition has been questioning the funding of the state-run schemes, claiming that they are aimed at wooing voters ahead of state assembly elections.
