Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 25: Amid an ongoing hunger strike by Adivasi students protesting discriminatory rules, safety concerns and poor living conditions in state-run hostels, Maharashtra Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike on Tuesday stayed the Government Resolution (GR) dated August 14, 2026, which had imposed a 30-year upper age limit for hostel admissions.

"We have decided not to impose any age restriction after detailed deliberation on this issue," Uike said after chairing a meeting on facilities, admission procedures and management of government tribal hostels.

The department had earlier justified a 26-year age limit on the grounds that Scheduled Tribe students generally complete degree, diploma or postgraduate courses by that age.

The government had also cited the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, which provides financial assistance to students unable to secure hostel accommodation and has a 30-year age cap.

Uike directed officials to formulate revised procedures covering admissions, facilities, administrative processes and inspection systems to ensure quality services and uniformity in hostel management.

He stressed the need to prevent inconvenience to students and create a conducive academic environment. He also said operational issues within the hostel system must be addressed to improve service delivery, with a student-centric, transparent and strengthened management framework.

Despite the government withdrawing provisions that had triggered protests and cancelling the age restriction, students have refused to call off their agitation. They are demanding better financial support, improved infrastructure and stronger safety safeguards.

The Tribal Development Department has 494 sanctioned hostels for Scheduled Tribe students pursuing secondary, higher secondary and college education. Of these, 490 are operational and accommodate around 58,000 to 60,000 students.

Rules trigger student protests

The immediate trigger for the protests was a GR issued on August 5, consolidating hostel rules for the first time since November 2011.

The GR introduced provisions barring students from hunger strikes and protest marches, requiring complaints to be routed through hostel wardens and project officers, and imposing a 26-year upper age limit for admission.

Students opposed the rules, saying the age restriction would exclude those pursuing higher education later in life. They also raised concerns over inadequate allowances and facilities.

Protesters further alleged that female students returning after prolonged leave were asked to undergo pregnancy and medical tests.

As protests spread, the department issued another GR on August 14, raising the age limit to 30 years and withdrawing restrictions on protests. Before the August 5 order, there had been no upper age limit for hostel admission.

Rahul Gandhi raises concerns

Earlier, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, raising concerns over the protests.

In a post on X, Gandhi said tribal students had been on hunger strike for more than 10 days while demanding their rights.

He cited what he described as humiliating rules, unsafe facilities and inhuman provisions, including pregnancy checks for women.

Gandhi urged Fadnavis to personally meet the protesting students and resolve their grievances. He also highlighted concerns over unsafe hostel environments and reported instances of injuries and deaths, including fatalities allegedly caused by snake bites.