The Maharashtra government has issued a government resolution (GR) that will entitle economically weaker section (EWS) students in self-financed universities to receive a 50% fee concession. Until now, there were no fee concessions available at self-financed universities for EWS students. The GR mandates that 10% of the total enrolled students who meet the government’s criteria for EWS will benefit from the scheme. The criteria for EWS includes income proof and property ownership based on set limits.
Presently, there are 22 self-financed private universities in Maharashtra. The GR will cover the tuition fee as well as any other fees charged by the university throughout the entire duration of the course. Significantly, self-financed universities will not receive any financial grants or assistance from the government in implementing this scheme.
The GR outlines that the process for granting tuition fee exemptions should be initiated by the self-financing universities during the student admission process. Within one month from the last date of admission, each university must submit a report to the government providing details of the students who have been granted the relevant concessions. The government will then review the reports within a month.
The government had relaxed some norms for self-financed universities in Maharashtra in 2019, and in March of this year, the higher and technical education minister had held a meeting of private universities and set forth a proposal to either have the fee regulation authority cap their tuition fees or keep 10% of their seats reserved for backward category students.
The scheme is a welcome move for EWS students, who will now have the opportunity to access higher education in self-financed universities at more affordable rates. This decision will pave the way for the educational and financial betterment of vulnerable and diverse sections of society.
