Tribal students protest over 'inadequate' hostel facilities

Hundreds of tribal students of the district have launched a protest against alleged denial of decent hostel facilities by the state government and sought permission from the President for 'ichha maran' (voluntary death).
The tribals, under the banner of Birsa Brigade, today submitted a memorandum to the district Collector Sachindra Pratap Singh, seeking permission from the President Pranab Mukherjee and the Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao for voluntary death.
The students, who are agitating since yesterday, have launched a relay hunger strike in front of the Collector's office.
"At least 1,000 tribal students are studying in Yavatmal district, half of whom are studying in Yavatmal tehsil. They have been denied hostel accommodation by the government. The government should construct adequate hostels in the district," Aravind Kudmethe, the president of the outfit, told mediapersons today.

"We had demanded for the (hostel) facility in the beginning of the current academic session, but to no avail," he said.
Various organizations have extended their support to the agitation, he claimed.