‘Pregnancy tests for female students’: Rahul Gandhi raises tribal student protests in letter to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has brought attention to the plight of Adivasi students in Maharashtra who are currently on a hunger strike for ten days. In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gandhi urged the Chief Minister to personally meet with the protesting students, listen to their concerns, and address their issues promptly.

The Adivasi students from various parts of Maharashtra have been demanding better living conditions, especially in government hostels. Many of these students come from remote villages and rely on these hostels for their education. However, a new rule has been implemented that bars anyone over 30 from staying in these hostels, thereby excluding many students who are still pursuing their studies or preparing for exams.

Besides the age restriction, the hostels are also criticized for their poor conditions, including a lack of food, sanitation, and medical care. There have also been reports of injuries and deaths among the students, some of which were caused by snake bites. The situation is particularly dire for female students, who are subjected to additional humiliation.

According to Gandhi, female students who have been away from the hostels for an extended period are now required to undergo pregnancy tests and other medical examinations to prove their fitness.

Gandhi expressed his shock at this rule, which he believes is an affront to the dignity and humanity of the students. He emphasized that the students are not seeking charity but their rightful entitlements. He appealed to Fadnavis to personally meet with the protesting Adivasi students, hear their grievances, and resolve their issues without any further delay.