Student organisation seek fee waiver for those who lost one parent to Covid

State technical and higher education minister Chandrakant Patil announced fee waiver to students who have lost both parents to the Covid pandemic

After the state technical and higher education minister Chandrakant Patil announced fee waiver to students who have lost both parents to the Covid pandemic, those whose single parent, sole breadwinner, died during the pandemic also seek the relief.

On August 22, during the Vidhan Sabha session, Chandrakant Patil said, “There are 931 undergraduate and 228 postgraduate students from different government colleges who have lost both their parents to Covid pandemic. And the entire course fee of these students will be paid by the state government.” (HT FILE PHOTO)

Student organisation claims that though the state government recorded 1,051 students for fee waiver cover during the last academic year across the state, the number is more as students who have lost their single parent should also be benefitted.

On August 22, during the Vidhan Sabha session, Patil said, “There are 931 undergraduate and 228 postgraduate students from different government colleges who have lost both their parents to Covid pandemic. And the entire course fee of these students will be paid by the state government.”

“I am studying in science stream and my father passed away due to Covid infection last year. We had a small family business and I have two sisters, but now there is no one to support us financially. The fee waiver benefit by the state government will help me complete college education,” said Santosh Mandhare, a second-year student.

“We welcome the state government’s decision on fee waiver, but it should cover students who have lost their single parent. Many students, especially from the rural areas, could not register for the scheme last year as they were unaware about it,” said Kuldeep Ambekar, student and president of Students Helping Hand organisation.