After Rahul Gandhi’s nudge, Maharashtra scraps age limit for tribal hostel admissions

The Maharashtra Government has abandoned the age limit requirement for tribal students in government hostels, following a request from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The age limit, set at 30 years, is no longer applicable for students to secure admission in adivasi hostels in Maharashtra.

State Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike informed reporters after an all-party meeting with tribal MLAs and MPs in Mumbai, stating that there will be no rule for students to get admission in adivasi hostels in Maharashtra. The State Tribal Development Department manages 490 government hostels, accommodating 58,000 to 60,000 students annually.

The Gujarat Government's decision came after Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about the hostel admission process in a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Gandhi highlighted issues such as unsafe conditions, lack of food, sanitation, medical care, and even pregnancy tests for female students. He also criticized the humiliation of pregnant students and the lack of proper facilities.

Showered with demands, including ₹1 crore assistance for each family of the deceased girls in Gadchiroli and various other requests, tribal students have been on a hunger strike for over 13 days in various locations across Maharashtra, including Pune, Nashik, Wardha, and Palghar. The BJP Mahayuti government has been criticized by the Congress for its lack of attention to the concerns of tribal students, with allegations of corruption within the Tribal Development Department.