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Maharashtra: 10% Students at Private Universities to get 50% Concession in Fees

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Mumbai: The state government has directed all private or self-financed universities in the state to provide a 50% concession in fees to 10% of all their students. However, only students belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS), irrespective of their castes, can avail of this scheme.

According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued on Thursday, this initiative will help students at private universities, which don’t get the benefit of any of the state’s scholarship and fee waiver schemes. However, the universities would be required to foot the expenditure for the scheme, as the state won’t provide them with any grants for its implementation.

Maharashtra has 27 self-financed universities. These universities are different from deemed universities – or ‘deemed to be universities’ – which are the institutes attaining the status of a university from the central government owing to its high standards in a particular area of study.  The self-financed universities, on the other hand, are the institutes set up by private entities with approval from the state government.

While they are allowed to frame their own syllabus and conduct entrance tests, they are bound by the norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC) other regulatory bodies. While they also have to follow the reservation policy of the government, there’s little state control over their fee structure. As a result, their fees tend to be higher than other institutes.

“The EWS students entering private universities faced difficulty in paying fees. hence, the government received a proposal to provide concession to these students. The decision was taken considering various factors and is based on the National Education Policy’s proposal for a student-centric education,” read the GR.

The universities have been asked to provide the fee concession at the time of admission and present a report to the government within a month of concluding the admission process.

Sandip Jha, Chairman, Sandip University, a private university based in Nashik, has welcomed the decision. He, however, appealed to the government to chip in to provide educational aid to students. “Any kind of scholarship being provided to needy students is welcome. Since our inception, we have been helping students with more than Rs 10 crore worth of scholarships every year,” he said, adding, “We would appreciate if the state government shares the amount of scholarship as we are not getting any other aid from the government.”

Jha assured that the scheme won’t have any impact on the fees for other students. “We will continue to have the usual 10% hike in fees to account for inflation, but nothing beyond that,” he said.

Maharashtra

Ayan Shaikh sexual abuse case not love jihad, new conclusion in investigation, Ayan’s life in danger

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An FIR has been registered against Ayan Sheikh alias Ayaz Sheikh for sexual harassment in the limits of the Toward Police Station in Mumbai. A new revelation has come out in the case of Ayan Sheikh that his friend Uzair Khan leaked his videos on his Instagram, after which there was a stir. The police have started an investigation in this case and have arrested 8 accused. Along with this, several important conclusions have been made in the investigation. Ayan Sheikh had contacted the victims through his Instagram account and after making friends, he would have affairs with these girls and then take them to a hotel and establish relations with them. Uzair had made the video viral on Instagram because he was also Ayan’s social media handle and there was a dispute between the two over money and he made the videos viral in anger. In this case, the police have arrested everyone from those who made the video to those who collaborated with him.

Three policemen suspended
One ASI Salim and two constables have been suspended in the Ayan Sheikh case. Ayan’s video with the policemen went viral and they were in contact with Ayan, so it was tarnishing the image of the police department, after which the policemen were suspended and an inquiry was initiated. Ayan Sheikh’s life is also in danger because the relatives and parents of the victims are angry and special care is also taken for her security during her appearance in court. The police said that in the investigation that has been started regarding Ayan Sheikh, so far this case is not of love jihad nor does Mata Tsoraya belong to any other religion, but after this, attempts to give it a religious color are intensified, along with this, bulldozer action was also taken in this case.

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Maharashtra

Naxalites dance to ‘Hadma’ song at Pune Ambedkar Jayanti program, case registered against two BBA students

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Mumbai: Pune A dance performance based on a song based on the Naxalite Hidma Madvi at a cultural program organized on the occasion of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti has created a stir. Accordingly, the police have also registered a case, but after registering a case on the song and dance, the question is now common on social media whether it is legally correct to register a case on the basis of considering the song and dance as objectionable? The Vishrantwadi police have registered a case against both of them for the Hidma song.

Kiran Narayan Gomase (age 22, native of Dechli, Talahari, Gadchiroli district, currently residing in Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Government Hostel, Vishrantwadi) and Srinivas Hanumant Kumari (age 23, native of Jhanganur, Tal. Gachi, currently residing in the same Sarwand, Sarwand district) hostel) have been identified. The police said that both are pursuing BBA. According to the police, a cultural programme was organised on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on April 11 at Bharat Ratna Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Government Hostel Vishrantwadi. The programme featured a dance performance on a song based on Hidma Madhavi, who was associated with the Communist Party of India (Maoist) organisation and was also the commander of Battalion No. 1 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). The police have taken action on charges of spreading misleading information which threatens the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. A case has been registered in this regard under sections 197(1)(d) 353(1) and 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A case has been registered at Vishrantwadi police station and Police Sub-Inspector Bhosale is investigating the matter further. This incident has created a stir in the city and sparked debate in academic and social circles as to whether a case was registered simply for dancing to a song, is this not against freedom of expression?

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Maharashtra

Department B conducts demolition operation on 9 unauthorized shops in Dongri

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Under the Mumbai B Department, recently, the ‘B’ Department of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation took action against 9 unauthorized shops, iron pillars installed on the road for parking of unauthorized vehicles, unauthorized nameplates of shops and other encroachments in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Marg and Dongri area. This action was taken under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone 1) Chanda Jadhav and led by Assistant Commissioner Yogesh Desai. It was found that unauthorized shops and encroachments on the footpath in Vallabhbhai Patel Marg and Dongri area in ‘B’ Department were causing hindrance to pedestrians. In this backdrop, the Conservation, Encroachment Removal and Licensing Departments working under the ‘B’ Administrative Division (Ward) of the Municipal Corporation jointly conducted a drive. During this operation, 9 unauthorized shops, encroachments on the footpath, unauthorized additional constructions of shops, iron pillars installed on the road for parking of unauthorized vehicles and unauthorized name plates of shops were removed. During this, eviction action was also taken against unauthorized hawkers in the area.

Officers and employees of the Conservation, Encroachment Removal, Licensing and Solid Waste Management Department working under the ‘B’ Administrative Division participated in this operation. Adequate security was deployed by the Dongri Police Station at that time.

Meanwhile, the administration is making it clear that regular action will continue against unauthorized constructions and unauthorized hawkers.

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