Rahul wrote a letter to CM Fadnavis on August 24 regarding the issue of tribal students.
The Maharashtra government has removed the 30-year age limit for admission to tribal hostels.
Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike said on Tuesday that, following approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 14, 2026, along with its revised rules, has been withdrawn.
The decision came three days after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Echo of Students) programme in Pune, where a young woman raised concerns about hostel admission rules and other difficulties.
She said women were asked to undergo pregnancy tests after returning to the hostel following long holidays.
Tribal students in Pune had been protesting for 13 days over several demands, including hostel admission rules, facilities and security.
They alleged that the new rules could prevent many tribal students pursuing higher education and preparing for competitive exams from getting government hostel facilities.
Students are demanding that the Maharashtra government withdraw the government resolution related to tribal hostels and issue a revised new order in its place.
Students’ health also deteriorated during the protest
The protest by tribal students at the tribal hostel in Manjari, Pune, began on August 13.
The students initially held a sit-in protest, after which some went on an indefinite hunger strike. A large number of students joined the protest.
Reports also said that the health of some students worsened during the hunger strike.
The students’ main demands included removing the 30-year age limit, improving hostel facilities and resolving long-standing issues faced by tribal students.
Rahul had said, ‘Why don’t you invite me to your protest?’
During the ‘Students’ Echo’ (Chhatron Ki Goonj) programme in Pune, a tribal student spoke to Rahul Gandhi about the protest.
Rahul told her, “Why don’t you invite me to your protest? If I come there, it will put a little more pressure on the administration.”
The student then raised concerns about arrangements for female students in the hostel.
She said that in Gadchiroli, women students returning after staying at home for more than a month were asked to undergo a pregnancy test.
According to the student, when she asked the administration why this was required, she was told that it was to ensure that she had not contracted any life-threatening disease while staying away for so many days.
Rahul wrote a letter to CM Fadnavis after the event
Rahul Gandhi wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on August 24, highlighting the students’ complaints.
He said that during the ‘Students’ Echo’ (Chhatron Ki Goonj) event, students had raised concerns about the 30-year age limit for government tribal hostels, humiliating rules, poor security arrangements and pregnancy tests for women.
Rahul said in Pune, ‘Women are controlled’
On August 22, Rahul Gandhi spoke about women’s safety, rights and social pressure at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Students’ Echo) event in Pune. He said that concerns about women’s safety can sometimes become a way of controlling them.
Rahul said India’s greatest strength lies in the dreams, ideas and potential of its women.
He said women should not be defined only as daughters, wives or mothers, but should have the freedom to build their own identities as professionals, athletes, students and in other fields.
