Free higher education for the poor: Assam government breaks ground

Education won't be an issue anymore for students belonging to families with income less than Rs 1 lakh per annum, according to the Assam government. On Sunday, June 12, they announced free education for students who want to take admissions in:

• Higher secondary
• Three-year degree
• Polytechnic diploma courses

'First state to make higher education for poor students free'

Himanta Biswa, the Education Minister of Assam said, "As far as my knowledge goes, Assam is the first state in India to make higher education free for poor students. There will be absolutely no fee for those students whose parents' income is less than Rs 1 lakh a year."

Which institutes fall under this decision?

• 310 government and provincialized colleges across the state
• Private institutions are out of the implementation area of this decision

Benefit:

Almost 50,000 to 60,000 students will be benefitted from this decision.

Procedure for students to avail this facility:

A student must show either of the following to avail the decision's benefit:

• Documentary evidence of parents' income in the form of salary slips for state and central government staff

• Employer's certificate for private sector worker

• Proof of income by circle officer of 'mauzadar'

Exception:

"If a student cannot arrange any of the above, then if the principal and the admission committee of the college in their wisdom feel that the income of his/her parents is below or Rs one lakh, then also the concerned principal can give free admission to the student," the minister said.

Expenditure:

The state government will provide an additional expenditure of Rs 70 crore for the first year. It will increase in the following years.

Comment on excessive fees of private educational institutes:

When the minister was asked about any measures that would be considered to be taken by the government in order to control the high fees of private educational institutes, he said, "This government will act soberly. We will not act with regulation or threat against the private sector. We will discuss and act. Private institutes are giving employment too. If I bring in any regulation, many institutes may close down and people will be unemployed then. Our motto is to take everyone along with us - Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas."

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