Maharashtra responds to MLA's concerns, grants fee waiver to orphan students

United News of India

a day ago

Mumbai, July 20 (UNI) In a landmark decision to bolster educational opportunities for vulnerable children, the Maharashtra State Government has issued a Government Resolution (GR) granting a full waiver of tuition and examination fees for orphaned students enrolling in approved higher and technical education courses starting from the academic year 2024-25.
Issued by the Women and Child Development Department, this progressive move aims to eliminate financial hurdles for orphaned youth pursuing professional education, promoting inclusive growth and social justice.
The development followed concerns raised by Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly regarding hardships faced by orphan students, who were previously compelled to depend on NGOs and charitable sources for educational expenses. In response, the state government committed to immediate implementation of the full fee waiver.
Speaking to UNI on Sunday, Shaikh thanked the government for addressing his concern "immediately" and issuing the GR promptly. However, he noted: "There are some minor shortcomings in this GR which should be addressed. The income limit set at 8 lakh is inappropriate."
The fee waiver applies to orphan children certified as either "institutional" or "non-institutional" by the competent Women and Child Development authority. Beneficiaries include students admitted to government colleges, government-aided colleges, partially aided (step grant) colleges, permanently non-aided colleges, technical institutions, state public universities (excluding private or self-financed universities), and recognized sub-centers of public universities offering professional courses.
Eligibility requires an annual family income of 8 lakh or less, with submission of an income certificate mandatory. The scheme covers both newly admitted students and those continuing courses, including renewals through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) and government-sanctioned protocols.
To avail benefits, students must present a valid orphan certificate and Maharashtra domicile certificate. The scheme excludes distance education, open learning, virtual, or part-time courses. The exemption continues uninterrupted until course completion for persistent students but is revoked if studies are discontinued.
Strict operational guidelines mandate transparency: Institutions must provide fee facilities immediately and cannot bar eligible students from education/exams due to delayed government disbursals. Institutions submitting false claims will face recovery of disbursed amounts with interest, overseen by the Commissioner of Women and Child Development (WCD).
The Commissioner (WCD) in Pune will coordinate the scheme. Where orphans cannot produce income certificates due to absent parents, competent authorities will facilitate verification/replacement. Students may claim other eligible social category benefits, but dual claims are prohibited. The government reserves the right to modify provisions without notice.
This policy builds on Maharashtra's existing 1 per cent reservation quota for orphans in government/aided professional courses. Previously, only EWS, SEBC, and OBC girl students received 50 pc fee relief – orphans now get 100 pc exemption acknowledging their unique vulnerabilities.
The measure is expected to provide critical financial relief to thousands of orphaned students, enabling pursuit of higher education without economic strain and setting a precedent for equitable education access.
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