Govt to start free coaching classes for rural students

Yavatmal, Jan 15 (PTI) Maharashtra Government isplanning to start special coaching classes for rural students,especially tribals, at divisional level to help them preparefor various competitive examinations.

This was announced by Social Justice MinisterShivajirao Moghe here last evening.

According to him, the rural students do not haveadequate facility to prepare for competitive exams and hencethey are always left out from joining important posts.

To overcome this handicap, the Social JusticeDepartment has decided to start coaching centres at sixdivisional headquarters across the state. These centres willprovide three-month duration course free of cost to deservingstudents, he said.

As many as 30 per cent of the seats will be reservedfor women candidates, Moghe said. "We shall give theresponsibility to run the centres to renowned educationalinstitutions which will be chosen by a selection committeeafter inviting proposals through public advertisement."

Highlighting the priorities of the ruling DemocraticFront coalition, Moghe said the Government has announced a Rs1,600-crore package for the farmers affected by the unseasonalrain and also obtained extension for the export of cottonbales till March 11.

Regarding the scholarship to the SC, OBC and VJ/NTstudents, Moghe said 70 per cent of the eligible students haveopened their saving accounts in the nationalised banks so far.