Maharashtra government partially waives off college fees

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In major stress-relieving good news for college students and their parents across Maharashtra, the state has announced full waiver of fees charged for facilities such as gymkhana, computers, magazines, sports, cultural events and medical for the duration of the pandemic. Even laboratory and library fees will be reduced by 50 per cent as their use is now virtual. State Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant made the announcement on Tuesday evening.

This will be applicable for all universities and government-aided colleges. For private, unaided colleges, the tuition fee and development fee will continue; for other charges, the same procedure has to be followed.

This spells a big relief for parents who have been complaining of difficulties in payment of full fees amid the pandemic. Samant also declared that students who have lost their parents to Covid-19, will get a complete fee-waiver for under graduate and post graduate courses.

"These are fee sections for services offered by colleges, but cannot be used by students amid the pandemic. Students will not be charged for them. In case of laboratory and library, because e-content has to be developed and they have to be maintained, 50 per cent of the regular fee will be charged. In case of hostel facilities, if they are not being used by students, they should not be charged for them," Samant said.

The waiver or reduction of fees has been a pressing demand by many students' organisations considering the pandemic induced financial crisis. Many student organisations had written to the state government about this.