Maharashtra Govt Grants Full Tuition And Exam Fee Waiver To Orphan Students In Higher Education

Following a demand by Samajwadi Party Member of the Legislative Assembly, Rais Shaikh, that tuition and examination fees, apart from other benefits, be made available to orphan students from the current academic year, the Maharashtra government’s Women and Child Development Department has announced that these students will receive full tuition and exam fee waivers starting from the academic year 2024-25. As a result, orphan students will now be able to pursue higher education free of cost.

Shaikh raised the issue in the legislative assembly on Friday. "In 2018, the Maharashtra government decided to provide 1% reservation for orphan students in education and jobs. On April 6, 2023, the Women and Child Development Department issued a Government Resolution, formalising this. However, orphan students are still not receiving tuition and exam fee benefits. They are forced to rely on NGOs and other means. Therefore, will the government now take immediate steps to provide 100% fee waivers to such students? And will these benefits be applied retrospectively to those who took admission under this quota since 2018? They should also be given age relaxation and other necessary benefits. Moreover, will the government ensure a mechanism for implementation, since orphan students have no parents to advocate on their behalf?” Shaikh asked.

Shaikh further highlighted that many orphan students are dropping out due to the non-implementation of these government decisions. “There is also a 1% reservation for orphans in jobs. However, since this is not reflected in the rosters, it is not being taken seriously. What action will the government take to implement this in all government and semi-government offices?” asked Shaikh.

Responding to this, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Meghna Bordikar, stated that a government decision would be issued today for the immediate implementation of the benefits from the current academic year. "The benefits will also be granted retrospectively to eligible students who have been admitted since 2018," said Bordikar.

The government issued a GR on Friday and ordered the immediate implementation of these benefits. The government also issued directions regarding reservations in jobs as well.