Maharashtra plans policy to aid education of single mothers’ children; identifies 2.23 lakh such students, ETEducation
Pune: State govt has identified 2.23 lakh school-going children of single mothers through a survey, aiming to provide them with educational and other support.
Sharad Gosavi, director of the state primary education department, which oversaw the survey, said govt planned to draft a policy aimed at supporting these women and their children, ensuring their educational and related needs were met.
“Govt told us to coordinate the survey, so we instructed all education officers and relevant authorities to report details of single mothers and their school-age children. The survey does not classify these women by occupation or social background. However, single mothers face various challenges in society. Govt wants to explore ways to support their children’s education — both in school and beyond — and also empower these women through skill-based training. Once the policy is finalised, it will be announced,” Gosavi said.
He said while efforts were made to include children from schools under different managements, the actual number could be higher if some were missed, but it would not be less than the 2,23,042 recorded.
Domestic help Seema Tasare, also a single parent, highlighted that many single mothers were not legally separated or divorced from their partners. “My husband and I parted ways, and he now lives with another family, but there’s no legal separation. I work in multiple households to afford my son’s education in an English-medium school. There should be provisions to help children of mothers like me,” she said.
A zilla parishad teacher welcomed the initiative, emphasising the need for scholarships or financial support for both children and their single mothers. “In rural areas, society is often harsh toward single mothers. Their biggest challenge is meeting educational expenses. If that burden is eased and mothers receive income-generating opportunities, it would greatly benefit these families,” the teacher said.
Experts pointed out the lack of dedicated schemes to support single mothers in ensuring their children’s education. While initiatives exist for girl children and for families affected by Covid fatalities, no specific programme has been introduced for single mothers, particularly in Maharashtra, an expert said, emphasising that these mothers often struggle with societal and financial challenges, and a govt-backed scheme tailored to such households could make a significant difference.
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