Patil announced that the state would cover 100 per cent of fees for girls in various professional courses starting June 1. However, mid-June has arrived with no government resolution (GR) issued or policy implemented, leading to confusion.
As the new academic year starts, the promised free higher education for female students has yet to be fulfilled, causing concern among educators and opposition leaders. Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil blamed the election model code of conduct for the delay and assured that the government would soon issue an order for free education for girls in the state.
In February, Patil announced that the state would cover 100 per cent of fees for girls in various professional courses starting June 1. However, mid-June has arrived with no government resolution (GR) issued or policy implemented, leading to confusion. A teacher from a degree college in the western suburbs highlighted that college admissions have started without official notification despite the announcement for girls from families earning less than ₹8 lakh annually.
The delay has raised widespread questions about when the promised free education will be implemented. A law aspirant noted conflicts between students and college authorities due to the lack of official notification. Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticized the delay on social media, pointing out that no GR has been issued despite the minister’s announcement.
Minister Patil recently clarified that the state government will soon issue an order for free education for girls, reiterating the commitment to prioritizing girls' education. He explained that the delay was due to the election code of conduct but assured that the order would be implemented soon.