Maharashtra government to provide free higher education to EWS, SEBC, and OBC girls
The Maharashtra government declared on Monday that females from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) will be able to receive free higher education.
This project, aimed at increasing women’s education, was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Additionally, tuition and test expenses for orphaned students of both genders would be eliminated, according to a government decree (GR).
Scheme expected to cost Rs 906 crore
The plan is expected to cost Rs 906 crore beginning with the academic year 2024-25. The GR states that 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 benefit from the initiative.
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Courses covered include higher and technical education, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, and dairy development.
Students from private autonomous or self-funded universities, as well as those enrolled under management or institutional quotas, are not eligible for the plan. Female students must come from households with an annual income of Rs 8 lakh or less and fall within the EWS, SEBC, or OBC categories. This initiative will help both new and current students seeking degrees.
Several other schemes also announced in the state budget
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar introduced several other schemes in the state budget, including the Mukhyamantri Annapoorna Yojana (which provides three free gas cylinders to women), the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana, the Mukhyamantri Krishi Pump Yojana, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (which provides a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women aged 21 to 60 years), and an overarching scheme for free education for women.
