Govt approves 20 percent increase in grants for partially funded private schools

The Maharashtra government has decided to approve a 20 per cent increase in grants for partially funded private schools that are currently receiving stepwise funding an official statement saidThe decision is likely to benefit a total of 5844 schools including 820 primary schools 1984 secondary schools and 3040 higher secondary schoolsjunior collegesThe schools have 8936 classes and an overall staff of 49562 which includes both teaching and nonteaching personnel the statement saidIt said that these schools meet the necessary criteria to qualify for the additional funding aimed at supporting their staff and enhancing educational resourcesThe distribution of grants will be as followsPrimary Schools 820 schools 3513 classes and 8602 staff membersSecondary Schools 1984 schools 2380 classes and 24028 staff membersHigher Secondary SchoolsJunior Colleges 3040 schools 3043 classesadditional branches and 16932 staff membersMaharashtra govt asks Centre to raise noncreamy layer limit to Rs 15 lakhMeanwhile the Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday decided to request the Union government to increase the income limit to qualify for noncreamy layer to Rs 15 lakh per year from the current Rs 8 lakh reported the PTIThe decision came ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024 which are expected to be held next monthA noncreamy layer certificate which means the family income of a person is below the prescribed limit is needed to avail of reservation benefits in the Other Backward Class OBC categoryA draft ordinance to accord a constitutional status to the Maharashtra State Scheduled Caste Commission was also approved in the cabinet meeting said a statement from the office of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as per the PTIThe ordinance will be tabled in the next session of the legislature it said adding that 27 posts were approved for the commissionIn other decisions the cabinet approved a proposal to set up welfare corporations for journalists and newspaper vendorsAdditional funds of Rs 70927 crore were sanctioned for the Balasaheb Thackeray Turmeric Research Centre in Hingoli districtA proposal under which nonprofit organisation Sulabh International will provide toilets and rest rooms at all 57 government hospitals in the state was approved in the meeting the release said news agency reportedGovernment land in Akse and Malwani in Borivali suburb of Mumbai will be given for the Dharavi redevelopment project and ineligible slumdwellers will be provided housing in these areas spread over 140 acres it saidThe cabinet also decided to provide houses to the government employees living in the Bandra government colony in MumbaiThe Public Libraries Act will be amended give a boost to the library culture in the state the release saidThe cabinet also approved the construction of JalnaNanded expressway which will be linked to the MumbaiNagpur Samruddhi corridorIrrigation projects were sanctioned for Saoner Kankavli Rajapur Ambernath Jihe Kathapur and LaturAnganwadi centers in the state will be allowed to start daycare centres the cabinet decidedAfrican safari will be introduced at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada international zoo in NagpurThe working capital of the Maulana Azad Financial Corporation will be hiked from Rs 700 crore to Rs 1000 crore the cabinet decidedAccording to the PTI the honorarium for Madarsa teachers with the D Ed degree will be increased from Rs 6000 to Rs 16000 while the salaries of teachers with BA B Ed BSc degrees will be hiked from Rs 8000 to Rs 18000with PTI inputs