Ben’s mega punch for ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao’

GANDHINAGAR: The Big Ben of Gujarat seems driven to make a difference to the lives of women. After 33% reservation for women in the police force and 50% reservation for them in civic bodies, chief minister Anandiben Patel is now poised to ensuring free higher education for girls.
This move, if implemented, will pack a mega punch for women empowerment as the government plans to fund the education of girls pursuing over 15 professional courses — including engineering, medical, MBA and MCA.This proposal is not only for government colleges but also for self-financed institutes where the fee runs from Rs 15,000 to Rs 4 lakh per annum.
Around 22,000 girls taking admission in SFIs and around 3,000 girls in government colleges would be direct beneficiaries.
A positive report was recently submitted by a high-level committee constituted to check the feasibility and implications of the move. “The committee has opined in favor of the government footing the higher education bill of girls in all categories irrespective of caste. The move will result in a manifold rise in girls opting for higher studies as the hefty fee was a big deterrent,” said a top babu close to the development.
Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state education minister, confirmed the state government’s move. “We are examining the recommendations of the committee. The government is positive but I cannot share more details till the government checks all legal and financial implications and arrives at a final decision,” Chudasama said.
In 1985, Gujarat made a policy decision to provide free education for girls which was discontinued in the early 1990s. Patel is keen to revive the policy.
The government is finalizing the model of payment especially to SFIs. “The move is expected to cost Rs 120 crore to Rs 150 crore to the exchequer per annum. This is a small part of the state budget but the social implications of the decision will be huge,” a top official said.