Maharashtra government will take strict action against colleges that deny admission to girl students under the tuition fee waiver scheme, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said on Friday, reported the PTI.
Speaking during Question Hour in the state legislative assembly in Mumbai, the minister warned that institutions violating the scheme could face serious consequences, including cancellation of affiliation.
He urged legislators to inform the government if any college refuses admission to eligible female students on the grounds of fees.
The state government introduced the tuition fee waiver scheme for girls pursuing professional courses two years ago to encourage higher education among women.
According to Patil, the initiative has significantly increased enrolment.
The number of girl students rose from 85,068 in the 2023-24 academic year to 1,15,800, marking an increase of around 41 per cent, as per the PTI.
However, the government has received complaints that some colleges are asking students to pay fees first and claim reimbursement later, which goes against the policy.
To ensure proper implementation, the government has directed every college to appoint a nodal officer responsible for monitoring the scheme.
Simplifying scholarship process
The government is also working to simplify scholarship applications through the MahaDBT Portal.
Patil said the number of documents required for scholarship applications has been reduced from 17 to eight, with further efforts underway to streamline the verification process, according to the PTI.
He added that scholarship payments would be given priority, similar to salary payments, to ensure that students and colleges do not face delays.
New category for orphan students
The minister also announced that a separate category for orphan students will be introduced on the MahaDBT portal.
Currently, orphan students are eligible for one per cent reservation and a full fee waiver in higher education, but the portal does not have a specific category for them.
The government plans to add the category alongside existing classifications such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBC and SEBC to ensure these students receive their benefits without difficulty.
Support for students without accommodations
Patil said students who are unable to get hostel accommodation will receive a monthly allowance of up to ₹6,000 to help cover accommodation expenses.
The state is also considering expansion of the “Earn and Learn” initiative, under which students can work in college libraries, laboratories or campus activities and earn a stipend of about ₹2,000 per month, the news agency reported.
Responding to queries about the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Scholarship Scheme, the minister admitted that several applications were still pending.
He said the government has now directed authorities to process and dispose of such applications within three weeks, reported the PTI.
Additionally, around 40 facilitation centres will be set up across the state to help students complete scholarship applications and resolve related issues.
(with PTI inputs)
