Rajasthan cadre IAS officer and Barmer District Collector Tina Dabi has once again found herself at the centre of public debate—this time due to remarks made by female students protesting against a steep hike in college fees in Barmer.
The controversy erupted when protesting students described the Collector not as a role model but as a “reel star,” triggering strong reactions from the administration and police and leading to the detention of student leaders. The situation later escalated into a larger protest outside the police station, forcing senior officials, including the Superintendent of Police, to intervene.
Students Protest Against Threefold Fee Hike
Female students of Barmer College, many of them associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), staged a protest demanding a rollback of what they termed a sudden and unjustified threefold increase in college fees. The protesters alleged that the fee hike would make education inaccessible for students from economically weaker backgrounds.
According to the students, repeated appeals to the administration had gone unheard, compelling them to take to the streets.
“Collector Madam Is a Role Model” Remark Sparks Outrage
Upon receiving information about the protest, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) reached the college to pacify the students. During discussions, the SDM reportedly told the protesting girls that their grievances would be addressed and referred to Collector Tina Dabi as a role model.
This remark triggered a sharp response from the students.
“She’s a Reel Star, Not Our Role Model,” Say Students
In response, the protesting students said that the Collector was not their role model but a “reel star.” They alleged that while the Collector actively participates in cleanliness campaigns and social media reels, she did not come to listen to the genuine problems of female students.
The students further stated that their real role models were historical figures such as Ahilyabai Holkar and Rani Lakshmibai, known for courage, governance, and sacrifice.
Police Detain Student Leaders, Situation Escalates
Following the remarks, police detained several student leaders present at the protest. The detentions further inflamed tensions, prompting dozens of female students to march to the Barmer Kotwali police station and stage a sit-in protest.
Chanting slogans and demanding the release of the detained leaders, the students accused the police of suppressing their democratic right to protest.
SP Narendra Singh Intervenes
As the situation worsened, Barmer Superintendent of Police Narendra Singh arrived at the police station to defuse tensions. In a move that drew widespread attention, the SP publicly acknowledged that the police had made a mistake in handling the situation.
“We accept it. We made a mistake,” the SP said while appealing for calm.
His statement helped ease the standoff, and a video of the SP admitting the error has since gone viral on social media, earning mixed reactions from the public.
Protest to Continue, Say Students
Despite assurances from the administration, the students said they would continue their protest until the fee hike is rolled back. They reiterated that the increase was unfair and demanded a transparent review of the decision.
