Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is considering a proposal to provide a minimum monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to female students under the 'Earn and Learn' scheme to ensure they do not face financial obstacles while pursuing higher education.
Maharashtra's Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, made this announcement during the Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Award Ceremony 2022-23 held at SNDT Women’s University. He stated that the proposed modification in the scheme would significantly support female students and make their educational journey smoother.
In the current scheme, universities have the discretion to decide the payable amount for students working under the 'Earn and Learn' programme, resulting in varying financial assistance across institutions. Additionally, there is no fixed monthly stipend.
The proposed amendment, however, aims to standardise the assistance by providing a fixed monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 exclusively for female students. This move is expected to reduce financial barriers and encourage more women to pursue higher education.
Patil emphasised that the government intends to make the 'Earn and Learn' scheme more effective by extending financial aid to female students.
“This initiative is expected to provide considerable assistance, especially to those from economically weaker backgrounds. The proposal is currently under consideration, and if approved, it will be implemented across the state,” the Minister said.
The award ceremony, organised by the Department of Higher and Technical Education, honoured six women from the state's six revenue divisions for their outstanding contributions to various fields.
While addressing the gathering, Patil noted that the distribution of the awards had been interrupted for a few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he assured that the government would now ensure that the award ceremony is held regularly every year. Patil also announced that the cash prize for the award, introduced in 1981, has now been increased to Rs 1 lakh.
Furthermore, Patil mentioned that literature written by social reformer Savitribai Phule would be made available at subsidised rates to promote her teachings. Former minister Chhagan Bhujbal, in his address, acknowledged the immense contribution of Savitribai Phule to women’s education and urged the government to continue organising the award ceremony annually without interruption.
