The Crossbill News Desk
Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Department has revised its rules for government hostels for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students following protests over provisions that students said restricted their right to participate in demonstrations.
The revised Government Resolution (GR), issued on Friday (August 14), removes the explicit ban on hunger strikes, protest marches and similar activities by hostel residents and increases the upper age limit for admission from 26 to 30 years, The Indian Express reported.
The changes came after students across the state protested against the August 5 GR, which had introduced both provisions for the first time.
More than 1,000 ST students had gathered outside the Office of the Additional Commissioner, Tribal Development, in Nagpur, while demonstrations were also reported from other parts of Maharashtra.
The earlier order had barred students residing in government hostels from taking part in hunger strikes, protest marches and other activities, with officials saying the restrictions were intended to preserve an academic environment and ensure that students remained focused on their studies.
Students, however, argued that the restrictions could prevent them from raising legitimate grievances and amounted to an infringement of their freedom of expression.
Maina Salame, a student from Deori in Gondia, said female students often struggled to have their complaints addressed through hostel wardens and therefore had to seek assistance from student organisations.
“In such cases, staging a protest becomes important,” she told the newspaper.
The government subsequently opened discussions with representatives of the protesting students.
Tribal Development Department Secretary Vijay Waghmare held a video conference with students on Thursday, followed by a meeting between Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike and the protesters on Friday.
While the government has withdrawn the protest-related restriction, it has retained an age criterion for hostel admissions, albeit with a higher ceiling. The revised order raises the maximum admission age from 26 to 30 years.
The department had earlier justified the 26-year limit on the grounds that most ST students were expected to complete their degree, diploma or postgraduate education by that age. It had also pointed out that students unable to obtain hostel accommodation could apply under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, which also permits beneficiaries up to the age of 30.
“Considering the difficulties pointed out by student representatives regarding the age limit, the maximum age for hostel admission is being increased to 30 years on the lines of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana,” the revised GR stated.
According to the revised order, Maharashtra has sanctioned 494 government hostels for ST students, of which 490 are currently operational. The August 5 GR had consolidated provisions contained in several earlier government resolutions concerning hostel facilities and amenities.
The concessions have not, however, persuaded the protesting students to call off their agitation. They continue to demand that the age restriction be removed completely.
The revised Government Resolution (GR), issued on Friday (August 14), removes the explicit ban on hunger strikes, protest marches and similar activities by hostel residents and increases the upper age limit for admission from 26 to 30 years, The Indian Express reported.
The changes came after students across the state protested against the August 5 GR, which had introduced both provisions for the first time.
More than 1,000 ST students had gathered outside the Office of the Additional Commissioner, Tribal Development, in Nagpur, while demonstrations were also reported from other parts of Maharashtra.
The earlier order had barred students residing in government hostels from taking part in hunger strikes, protest marches and other activities, with officials saying the restrictions were intended to preserve an academic environment and ensure that students remained focused on their studies.
Students, however, argued that the restrictions could prevent them from raising legitimate grievances and amounted to an infringement of their freedom of expression.
Maina Salame, a student from Deori in Gondia, said female students often struggled to have their complaints addressed through hostel wardens and therefore had to seek assistance from student organisations.
“In such cases, staging a protest becomes important,” she told the newspaper.
The government subsequently opened discussions with representatives of the protesting students.
Tribal Development Department Secretary Vijay Waghmare held a video conference with students on Thursday, followed by a meeting between Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike and the protesters on Friday.
While the government has withdrawn the protest-related restriction, it has retained an age criterion for hostel admissions, albeit with a higher ceiling. The revised order raises the maximum admission age from 26 to 30 years.
The department had earlier justified the 26-year limit on the grounds that most ST students were expected to complete their degree, diploma or postgraduate education by that age. It had also pointed out that students unable to obtain hostel accommodation could apply under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, which also permits beneficiaries up to the age of 30.
“Considering the difficulties pointed out by student representatives regarding the age limit, the maximum age for hostel admission is being increased to 30 years on the lines of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana,” the revised GR stated.
According to the revised order, Maharashtra has sanctioned 494 government hostels for ST students, of which 490 are currently operational. The August 5 GR had consolidated provisions contained in several earlier government resolutions concerning hostel facilities and amenities.
The concessions have not, however, persuaded the protesting students to call off their agitation. They continue to demand that the age restriction be removed completely.
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