Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday assured unaided colleges that the government would take steps on issues under its jurisdiction. At a Mantralaya meeting, representatives raised concerns over funding, faculty policies, UGC norms, fees and NEP reforms. Patil said demands would be studied and necessary action taken after review by officials.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant (Dada) Patil on Tuesday assured representatives of unaided colleges that the state government would take positive steps to address several long-pending issues affecting institutions, particularly those located in rural, tribal, hilly, drought-prone and Naxal-affected regions.

Review meet discusses funding, quality, NEP reforms

Chairing a review meeting at Mantralaya, Patil said the government would examine all demands falling within its jurisdiction, including financial support for permanently unaided colleges, measures to improve academic quality, incentives for research, participation in university-level funding, staff-related policies, and reforms required under the National Education Policy (NEP).

The meeting was attended by Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher and Technical Education Department B. Venugopal Reddy, Director of Higher Education Dr. Shailendra Deolankar, Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education Director Dr. Pramod Naik, senior department officials, Shivaji University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajneesh Kamat, representatives of the Maharashtra State Unaided Colleges Association, and other officials.