Student scholarship scheme to cost Maharashtra government Rs 1,314 crore a year

Maharashtra government will bear an annual burden of Rs 1,314 crore for paying 50 per cent fees of students whose family income is less than Rs 8 lakh a year, a minister said on Saturday.

Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said budgeting for Rs 1,200 crore for fees related to engineering and other professional courses has already been done, adding a government resolution (GR) relating to medical admissions was issued on Friday.

“Of the total amount, budgeting for Rs 1,200 crore for fees related to engineering and other professional courses has already been done,” Patil said at a press conference in Mumbai.

Patil said about 5 lakh students will benefit from the scheme.

Under the Rajarshee Shahu Educational Fee Scholarship Scheme, which covers 605 professional courses including medical and engineering, the government bears 50 per cent of the fee burden of students whose family income is less than Rs 8 lakh a year.

Both government and private colleges are eligible for getting the scholarship money.

Expressing support for reservation for the Marathas in jobs and education and said the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission is looking into the Maratha reservation issue.

“The Backward Class Commission has started work on a sample survey (to determine whether the Marathas are eligible for quota). About two lakh applications have been received. The survey is expected to be completed by July this year. After the commission submits its report, it will be approved by the Cabinet. We are for Maratha reservation,” the minister said.

“Since the information to be collected by the panel is huge, the report may not be submitted before January 2019,” Patil added.

(With inputs from agencies)