Survey Reveals Poor Awareness of Maharashtra’s Free Education Scheme for Girls
Pune, 23rd June 2025: Despite the Maharashtra government’s initiative to provide free higher education for girls, a recent survey conducted by the NGO Student Helping Hands has revealed that the scheme’s implementation is plagued by poor awareness and coordination between government bodies and educational institutions.
The survey, which included 200 female students from across various colleges in the state, found that 62.5% of the respondents did not know about the scheme, while some received incomplete or unclear information. Only 46% reported receiving any form of official communication from government sources.
More than 60% of students said their college administration did not provide any guidance on the procedure to avail the 100% fee waiver. Though 79.5% of them had attempted to apply through the government’s online portal, many faced technical issues and procedural delays, leaving their applications stuck and benefits undelivered.
“There is a clear lack of coordination between educational institutions and government departments,” said Amol Ambekar, founder of Student Helping Hands. “For effective implementation, eligible students must receive the benefit immediately during the admission process, and the state must make it mandatory for colleges to explain the scheme clearly to every female applicant.”
The survey has also sparked concern among parents, especially as admission season begins following the Class 10 and 12 results. Many parents remain in the dark due to poor publicity and lack of proactive communication from college administrations.
Key Demands from Student Helping Hands:
Extend the scheme’s benefits to private and deemed universities
Include postgraduate courses under the scheme
Simplify the application process
Ensure immediate benefit at the time of admission
Remove course restrictions and offer the scheme for all academic programs
Expert Recommendations:
Education experts have urged the Higher and Technical Education Department to take the lead in running widespread awareness campaigns to ensure that the scheme reaches its intended beneficiaries.
With thousands of eligible students still uninformed or entangled in procedural hurdles, the survey underscores the urgent need for systemic reform and better outreach to truly empower girls through education in Maharashtra.
