Maharashtra govt announces complete fee waiver for OBC, EWS, SEBC and ET Education courses for girls

Mumbai, Days after Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar made the announcement in the Budget 2024-25, the Maharashtra government on Monday issued a government resolution (GR) granting 100 per cent fee waiver, instead of the current 50 per cent, on vocational courses for girls from OBC, EWS and SEBC categories. The initiative aims to empower girls whose parents’ income is Rs 8 lakh or less per annum.

According to a regulation issued by the Department of Higher and Technical Education, the programme will be implemented from the 2024-25 academic year.

The state government has agreed to bear an additional burden of Rs 906.05 crore. The Department of Higher and Technical Education said the government’s decision was necessary as currently only 36 per cent girls opt for vocational courses. The decision is expected to encourage more girls to enrol in courses like nursing, MBBS, MBA, BMM, BMS, BCA and others.

It is also expected that this programme will help girls pursue higher education, which they might not be able to do due to lack of money.

The GR Scheme will be applicable to girls studying in government colleges, non-government grant-aided schools, partially government-funded or continuously run schools without government grant-aid, polytechnics, public universities and deemed to be universities.

Shiv Sena spokesperson and coordinator of the party’s women’s wing Susiben Shah praised the government’s move, saying, “Once again, the CM has shown that this government is committed to serving the common people.”