Under the 'Earn and Learn' initiative, the Maharashtra government is evaluating a proposal to give female students a minimum monthly financial aid of Rs 2,000 in order to ensure that women do not encounter financial challenges while pursuing higher education.
This declaration was made by Chandrakant Patil, the Minister of Higher and Technical Education for Maharashtra, at the Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Award Ceremony 2022–2023 at SNDT Women’s University. According to him, the suggested change to the plan would greatly benefit female students and facilitate their academic path.
Under the current plan, universities have the authority to determine how much money students enrolled in the "Earn and Learn" program must pay, which causes financial aid to differ between institutions. Furthermore, there isn't a set monthly compensation.
However, by giving female students a fixed monthly stipend of Rs 2,000, the proposed amendment seeks to standardise the aid. It is anticipated that this action will lower financial obstacles and motivate more women to seek higher education.
The government wants to increase the efficacy of the 'Earn and Learn' program by providing financial aid to female students, Patil emphasised.
Six women from the state's six revenue divisions were acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to a variety of professions at the award ceremony, which was hosted by the Department of Higher and Technical Education.
Speaking to the audience at the event, Patil said the COVID-19 pandemic had caused a pause in the awards' presentation for a few years. He did, however, promise that the government will now make sure the award ceremony is held annually. Additionally, Patil declared that the award's financial prize, which was first offered in 1981, had been raised to Rs 1 lakh.
Additionally, Patil stated that to promote the principles of social reformer Savitribai Phule, her books would be made available at discounted prices. During his speech, former minister Chhagan Bhujbal praised Savitribai Phule's enormous contribution to women's education and urged the government to keep holding the award event every year without fail.