Mumbai, Aug 25 (IANS) Amid the ongoing hunger strike by Adivasi students in Maharashtra protesting discriminatory rules, safety issues and poor living conditions in state‑run hostels, Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike on Tuesday stayed the Government Resolution (GR) dated August 14, 2026, lifting the upper age restriction of 30 years for hostel admissions.
“We have decided not to impose any age restriction after detailed deliberation on this issue,” Uike said after chairing a meeting to discuss facilities, admission procedures and management aspects of government tribal hostels.
The department had earlier justified a 26‑year limit, citing that Scheduled Tribe students generally complete their degree, diploma or postgraduate courses by that age.
The government also pointed to the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, which provides financial assistance to students unable to secure hostel accommodation and itself has a 30‑year age cap.
Uike directed officials to formulate revised procedures for admissions, facilities, administrative workflows and inspection systems to ensure quality services and uniformity in hostel management.
He emphasised measures to prevent inconvenience to students and to create a conducive academic environment.
He added that operational issues within the hostel system must be resolved to deliver services more effectively, stressing a student‑centric, transparent and strengthened management framework.
While the government has withdrawn provisions that triggered protests and cancelled the age restriction, students have refused to call off their agitation, demanding better financial support, improved infrastructure and 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, housing around 58,000 to 60,000 students.
The immediate trigger was a GR issued on August 5, consolidating hostel rules for the first time since November 2011. It introduced provisions barring students from hunger strikes or protest marches, requiring complaints to be routed through hostel wardens and project officers, and imposing a 26‑year age limit for admission.
Students said the new rules would exclude many pursuing higher education later in life. They also complained of inadequate allowances and facilities. Protesters 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, revising the age limit to 30 years and withdrawing restrictions on protests. Before August 5, there had been no upper age limit.
Earlier, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, raising concerns over the protests. In his post on X, Gandhi said tribal students had been on hunger strike for more than 10 days, demanding their rights.
He cited humiliating rules, unsafe facilities and inhuman provisions such as pregnancy checks for women.
Gandhi urged Fadnavis to meet the students personally and resolve their grievances, noting unsafe hostel environments and instances of injuries and deaths, including fatalities caused by snake bites.
–IANS
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