Government to set up educational institute for EWS

Mumbai: Ahead of the Vidhan Sabha polls, the BJP-led state government is trying to woo upper caste voters by setting up an autonomous institute for the educational and financial development of economically weaker sections (EWS) from the general category.

The proposed ‘Academy of Maharashtra Research, Upliftment and Training’ (AMRUT) will be an autonomous body like the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI) and Mahatma Jyotiba Research and Training Institute (MAHAJYOTI) and will work for the welfare of the EWS youth.

According to state officials, the state government has already decided to provide 10 per cent reservation to EWS from the general category. Accordingly, students from this category are being provided admission in educational institutes and reservation in government jobs. “But, for the overall development of this section, they need to get proper guidance and training. Hence it has been decided to form AMRUT on the lines of BARTI, SARTHI and MAHAJYOTI,” said a senior state official.

The AMRUT will help EWS youths attain growth in areas such as industry and business and pursue higher education and foreign education. It will also implement training programmes for the youth in view of skill development, competitive exams and philosophy courses. Women will also be provided counselling and guidance to ensure their empowerment, he added.

The BARTI has been formed for the development of the state’s scheduled caste youths in various sectors, whereas SARTHI works for the socio-economic and educational development of Maratha, Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha, and Kunbi communities and the families dependent on agriculture in Maharashtra.

The MAHAJYOTI was set up last month to work for the social, educational and economic development for the special backward class, OBC and VJNT communities.