In a significant move to support students pursuing skill-based courses, the Maharashtra state education department has increased the monthly stipend from a mere Rs 60 to a more substantial Rs 500. This boost in financial aid comes after a staggering 40 years, providing much-needed relief to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The stipend hike is expected to alleviate some financial burdens for these aspiring craftsmen and women.
A Long-Awaited Increase:
The stipend program was originally launched in 1983, aiming to assist students studying trades like carpentry and plumbing. Despite persistent demands and inflation over the decades, the stipend remained stagnant until recently when the government issued a notification for the increase. This decision recognizes the changing economic landscape and the rising costs of education materials, addressing the longstanding requests from public representatives and trainees.
Implementation Through MahaDBT:
Starting from the current academic year, the enhanced stipend will be disbursed through the MahaDBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) online platform. Abhinandan More, the Upper Secretary of the state government, clarified that students enrolled in courses under the craftsmen training scheme at government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) from the academic year 2023-24 onward will be eligible for this stipend.
Inclusion of Diverse Categories:
The government’s decision ensures that students from various backgrounds can benefit from the stipend increase. This includes scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, freed castes, nomadic tribes, other backward classes, special backward classes, minority communities, and those in the open category. The primary eligibility criteria for receiving the stipend are that the student’s parents’ annual income should not exceed Rs 8 lakh, and they must be residents of Maharashtra.
Expanding Access to Government ITIs:
The decision to raise the stipend comes as the city of Maharashtra adds a new government-run ITI in Lohegaon. Additionally, the competition for seats in government ITIs has intensified, with students who score over 90% marks in their board exams now vying for admission. This increased demand played a role in the government’s move to enhance the stipend to support a broader range of students pursuing vocational education.
The decision to raise the ITI stipend in Maharashtra after four decades is a welcome relief for students pursuing skill-based courses. By addressing the long-standing demand for increased financial support, the state government is taking steps to make vocational education more accessible and attractive to students from diverse backgrounds. This move is expected to empower aspiring craftsmen and women and contribute to the skill development landscape in Maharashtra.
