Jaipur: Welcoming the Budget announcement of establishing one girls’ hostel in every district, experts in Rajasthan said that this is a key decision that will increase the enrolment of girls in colleges. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced, “In higher education STEM institutions, prolonged hours of study and laboratory work pose some challenges for girl students. Through VGF/capital support, one girls’ hostel will be established in every district.” In Rajasthan, over 7.25 lakh girls are enrolled in colleges compared to 5.86 lakh boys, as per the annual report 2024-25 of the higher education dept. Of these 7.25 lakh girls, over 1.35 lakh girls enrolled in science courses. In 2023-24, the state saw 7.22 lakh girls enrolled compared to 6.03 lakh boys. Prof N P Padhy, director of Malviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, said, “This decision is very important for Rajasthan. Jaipur, the capital, has facilities for girls in terms of accommodation, aspirations, and awareness among girls regarding different avenues in higher education. But district-level education facilities need to be elevated across the state.” Experts said that such an initiative will also help in giving better exposure to girls, as parents trust govt-run facilities and trust the services, opening paths for girls to study in bigger towns or cities.
