Mumbai class 11 student urges girls from well-off families to pay full fees

Urja Bharatiya met up with education minister Vinod Tawde to discuss her campaign

Taking inspiration from the Prime Minister's ‘Give Up LPG Subsidy' campaign, a Class 11 student has launched the 'Give It Up - Girls' Education Concession' movement, to back the education of girls coming from underprivileged backgrounds.

Urja Bharatiya from Ruia College, who is spearheading the campaign, has already written a letter to state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and education minister Vinod Tawde, requesting the state to let her pay her entire college tuition fees, without taking benefit of the concession that is currently being offered to girl students. According to Bharatiya, the money can instead be directed to female students, who are not financially well off.

Girl students from Maharashtra studying at government-aided institutions receive concession in fees till Class 12. The scheme had started over a decade ago to ensure that girls do not dropout at the higher secondary level.

"When I took admission to a college, I was told that my fee was only R200. When I expressed shock, the authorities told me that this is because I was entitled to a government's scheme that provided a fee concession for female students," said Bharatiya.

"I felt that this wasn't really fair towards the college, which is providing us with so many good facilities. When we can pay so much to private coaching classes, shouldn't we help our colleges financially so that it can continue to offer better services," said Bharatiya, a resident of Malabar Hill. She added that the state should instead help girl students, who are really in need.

Her letter states, "I feel students who are capable of paying the exact amount, like me, should not take advantage of the concession. Please allow me to pay the amount of fees, which boys are paying. I support the idea of concession for those students who are incapable of paying fees (sic)."

To begin her campaign, Bharatiya has started a Facebook page called ‘#Give it Up - Girls' Education Concession'. "I am starting with Facebook to reach out to girls who are able to pay their entire fees. Those girls who can't pay their fees can take better advantage of this concession."

After submitting her letter, Bharatiya also met with Tawde, who promised to look into the issue. When mid-day contacted Tawde, he was unavailable for comment.

Dr Suhas Pednekar, principal of Ruia College, said, "It is certainly a novel idea. But, we cannot help her in this case as the order comes directly from the state government. We are hopeful that the state government will take cognisance of our student's request."