Pune: In a significant move, girls in Maharashtra will benefit from a 100% fee waiver across 642 courses. Educational institutions will receive the admission fees from the government in September.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, in an address in Pune, sternly warned institution administrators to wait for this disbursement and not deny admission to girls under any circumstances. Patil stressed that girls should be admitted without any fee.

This announcement was made during the inauguration of the first Center of Excellence in Robotics and Automation, established by the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education and the Government Polytechnic in Pune.

The event saw the presence of dignitaries including MLA Siddharth Shirole, Dr. Pramod Naik, Director of Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education, Dr. Dattatray Jadhav, Regional Joint Director, Dr. Mahendra Chitlange, Secretary, and Dr. Rajendra Patil, Principal. Additionally, a multipurpose computer lab was inaugurated at the event.

Minister Patil emphasized the importance of providing high-quality education and training through government polytechnics. He encouraged government institutions to enhance cooperation with industries to offer better facilities to students.

He noted that the central government is willing to fund the development of government technical education, urging polytechnics to propose innovative ideas, promising necessary support for creating excellent facilities.

The government is committed to making government polytechnics more comprehensive and enriched. The first of the three approved Centers of Excellence is being inaugurated in Pune, with computer labs established in 41 polytechnics to increase CET capacity for 1,600 students.

MLA Shirole highlighted the significance of starting the first Center of Excellence in the historic Government Polytechnic building, stating that it will effectively integrate experience-based education with modern technology.