Free Professional Education for Girls from Economically Weaker Sections

The proportion of girls in vocational education is currently limited to 36%. According to the New Education Policy (NEP), there is a need to increase this proportion and provide equal educational opportunities for girls. To ensure that financial constraints do not deprive girls of vocational education, a decision was made in the meeting held on July 5, 2024.

Starting from the academic year 2024-25, the Government has approved a 100% waiver of education and examination fees for girls from economically weaker sections, other backward classes, and socially and educationally backward classes. This benefit is available to new entrants as well as to previously admitted girls (with renewed applications) across Government Colleges, Government Aided Non-Government Colleges, Partially Aided (Phase Grant) and Permanent Unaided Colleges/Technical Colleges/Public Universities, and recognized professional courses in sub-centers under Public Universities. This decision does not apply to Private Recognized Universities/Self-Financed Universities.

For girls with a family income of Rs. 8.00 lakh or less per annum, who have been admitted through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP), the government will cover 100% of their education and examination fees, as opposed to the previous 50% coverage. This initiative also includes students in the departments of Higher and Technical Education, Medical Education and Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Fisheries, and Other Backward Bahujan Welfare.

Additionally, the 100% fee waiver is extended to orphan boys and girls, both in ‘institutional’ and ‘non-institutional’ categories, as per Government Decision No. 06.04.2023. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Maratha Reservation and Facilities has also proposed aligning the income criteria for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category with that of other backward categories. Consequently, the Government’s decision dated 07/10/2017 has been amended.

For students admitted under the EWS reservation, the income certificate will be based on the combined income of both parents, as issued by the competent authority. This certificate is required to receive benefits under the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Education Fee Scholarship Scheme. However, once a student has been awarded this scholarship in their first year, they will not need to submit an income certificate for subsequent years.

The same provisions regarding income certificates are also applicable to orphan boys and girls in both ‘institutional’ and ‘non-institutional’ categories. The district administration urges newly admitted and previously admitted students from economically weaker sections, other backward classes, and socially and educationally backward classes to take advantage of this scheme.