The government will pay interest on loans availed by the medical students up to Rs 6 lakh.

The Maharashtra government has decided to extend 50 per cent fee reimbursement for students of engineering and other professional courses, belonging to the economically backward class (EBC) with family income of up to Rs 6 lakh per annum.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that previously, students belonging to SC/ST/OBC communities used to get the benefit of fee reimbursement under the Rajshri Shahu Maharaj scheme. Now, the facility will be given to all the students in economically weaker section.

However, the opposition has slammed the CM for giving the facility to the students studying in the government-aided colleges only.

Describing the decision taken at the Cabinet, the CM said the scheme would be implemented from the current academic year, for which the government has made an initial allocation of Rs 1 crore. “Up to Rs 2.5 lakh annual income, the students will get the benefit without any condition. However, above Rs 2.5 lakh and below Rs six lakh, the government has put the condition that (the student in question) should have secured at least 60 per cent marks in the entrance exam,” Mr Fadnavis said. According to officials in the finance department, seven lakh students will benefit from this decision.

The government has also decided to pay interest on loans availed by the medical students up to Rs 6 lakh, which will also benefit lakhs of students. Until now, only economically backward students with annual income of up to Rs 1 lakh were accorded this benefit.

The chief minister further stated that under the Bhausaheb Punjabrao Deshmukh scheme, EBC students belonging to small and marginal land holding farming families will get Rs 30,000 per year for dormitory, food allowance and materials at major cities. The allocation for students staying at minor cities will be Rs 20,000 per year.

However, Congress state president Ashok Chavan said there is nothing new in the decision. “The government always delays fee reimbursement to the colleges, which affects the students’ careers. Will the government reimburse fees on time ” Mr Chavan asked.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik termed the decision as hogwash.

“The scheme is applicable to only government-aided colleges and medical students will have interest-free loan. The government is only giving hype to the decision,” he said.