Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil Rings the Bell for FUEL’s Debut on NSE Social Stock Exchange
· Free Press Journal
In a historic milestone for social finance and vocational education, Maharashtra’s Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Dada Patil, and Minister for Skill Development, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, officiated the ‘Bell Ringing’ ceremony for FUEL (Friends Union for Energising Lives) at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) recently. The event marked FUEL’s official listing on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) platform.
Minister Chandrakant Patil announced a revolutionary ‘Earn and Learn’ initiative for girl students through FUEL. Under this scheme, the government will provide a monthly stipend of ₹2,000 to female students in Maharashtra starting this academic year.
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When students are given clear direction, they develop the skills necessary to uplift themselves and society, Minister Patil stated. This partnership between the State Government, NSE, and FUEL will open doors to free education for underprivileged girls, ensuring their life is better and more prosperous.
Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha lauded FUEL’s transition into a Skill Tech University. He emphasized the importance of Innovation" over mere Skill, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of turning challenges into opportunities.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis give the remark by video conference. He stated that strategic roadmap for the institution, announcing that the FUEL Board is planning a 100 crore social issue to enable widespread public participation in their mission. This initiative offers diverse investment categories ranging effectively democratizing social impact for both retail and institutional investors. He ensuring that FUEL’s transition into a Skill Tech University is supported by a robust framework of transparency and public-private synergy.
Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of NSE, announced that FUEL has successfully raised approximately ₹99 lakh via the SSE platform. Significantly, 37% of these funds were contributed by retail donors. "The NSE platform now reaches 99.85% of India's PIN codes, allowing common citizens to drive social change alongside institutional investors, Chauhan noted.
Dr. Ketan Deshpande, Founder Chairman of FUEL, reflected on the organization's 20-year journey. He announced new strategic partnerships with Syngenta and Global Capability Centers (GCC) to bridge the gap between education and global employment.
The event, attended by Anurag Pratap (Capgemini) and anchored by Manasi Shontakke, concluded with a shared vision of scaling impact to reach more people.