Pune: A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi heard the grievances of a girl from govt tribal hostel in Manjari at his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event, hostel students took out a protest march in Pune on Sunday, demanding withdrawal of the recent rules governing tribal department-run hostels.The students, who have been protesting at the Manjari hostel for 11 days, are opposing the GR imposing an age cap on residents. The limit was 26 years, later revised to 30, through a revised resolution on Aug 14 following protests by students across the state.The protesters want withdrawal of conditions imposed on students returning to hostels after extended breaks, including a reported requirement for female students to undergo a pregnancy test.NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar met the students at Manjari and later joined their march at JM Road. Pawar said he had spoken to the minister, who assured him that a meeting with govt representatives was scheduled for Monday to discuss their demands.Nisha Sabale, who raised her grievances with Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, said the age restriction should be withdrawn immediately. “Students have been protesting for the last 11 days, but govt is not listening to us,” she said.Sabale said the students’ concerns extended beyond hostel facilities. She claimed recruitment to around 12,500 posts for tribal candidates was pending and alleged that nearly one lakh people with fake tribal certificates had secured jobs.“A detailed inquiry into these fake certificates should be conducted and those who issued them should face action as these fake employees are taking away jobs of genuine aspirants from the tribal community,” she said.Another protesting student sought relocation of the Manjari hostel to a more central location, citing the long commute to colleges. “Most of us study in colleges in central Pune. It takes nearly two hours to reach college from the hostel, meaning students spend around four hours a day travelling. After spending most of the day in college and travelling, we have little time left to study,” she said.Rahul Gandhi had told students to invite him to join their protest. The students are also demanding increased compensation to young students who died of snakebite in an ashramshala in Gadchiroli.
