Pune: A female student informed Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil that the state government’s free education scheme for girls is only on paper, as her fees had not yet been waived. In response, Patil has scheduled visits to colleges to verify the actual implementation of this scheme and other student welfare programs.
During a media interaction about the health survey of migrant students in Pune, Minister Chandrakant Patil stated that he would personally meet students to understand their challenges and take necessary steps.
In a private television interview, he was approached by a delegation from Student Helping Hands, where he questioned student Sakshi Shirsagar about the free education scheme for girls. She clarified that her fees had not been waived, contradicting the official claims about the scheme.
Upon hearing this, Patil took immediate action, calling Dr. Shailesh Devlankar, Director of Higher and Technical Education, and instructing him to schedule a visit to Abasaheb Garware College the next day. He also demanded a report on traditional course fees and announced weekly visits to Pune colleges, a move that has reportedly put the administration under pressure.
Key Student Demands and Minister’s Response
During the meeting, students put forth several demands, including:
Removing the 500-student limit per district under the Punjabrao Deshmukh Living Allowance Scheme. Patil assured immediate action to remove this restriction.
Providing free meals twice a day for 500 female students starting March 1, 2025.
Conducting monthly health check-ups at the college level and introducing health cards for students pursuing higher education.
Providing free coaching for IELTS and TOEFL to increase the number of students studying abroad.
Developing an app with details on scholarships and hostels under the Higher and Technical Education Department.
Establishing a Student Service Center.
Setting up a central hostel for migrant students in Pune.
Launching a food scholarship for underprivileged students, similar to the Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme.
Ensuring free education benefits are granted at the time of admission, while also expanding the number of eligible courses.
Collecting data on migrant students pursuing higher education.
Garware College Responds
Speaking with mediapersons, Dr. Vilas Ugale, Principal of Garware College, Pune, clarified that all eligible students at the college are receiving government scheme benefits. However, two female students had not submitted the required documents, and their fee waivers would be processed immediately upon submission. Additionally, he stated that colleges are undergoing a review of the National Education Policy (NEP) implementation, and as part of this process, Minister Chandrakant Patil will be visiting Garware College.