Tribal students on hunger strike at the Government Tribal Hostel in Pune.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The tribal students’ protest at the tribal boys’ hostel in Pune continued for the 11th day on Monday (August 24, 2026), as ten students are slated to reach Mumbai to meet Adivasi Tribal Minister Prof. Dr. Ashok Ramaji Uike at Mantralaya, according to Balakrishna Gawari, a student member of the Students Federation of India. They also want to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to share their demands.
The six students participating in the hunger strike — Shweta Girnak, 26; Nikita Mechkar, 22; Sharad Thokal, 26; Vijay Bhandble, 25; Rahul Dhanwe, 26; and Rajaram Padvi, 20 — are continuing their fast at the Adivasi Government Boys Hostel near the Hadapsar-Manjari border.
The student body had previously met with Mr. Uike on August 18 and had another meeting with the Additional Commissioner of Tribal Development and other officers on August 22.
Some of the tribal students’ demands include the withdrawal of the Maharashtra government’s August 14, 2026, Government Resolution (GR) on tribal hostels and the issuance of a revised order based on the November 11, 2011, GR, with changes to reflect current conditions and inflation. They have also demanded that allowances and other financial provisions be linked to the Consumer Price Index so that they increase annually in line with inflation.
They have also asked for increased protection for students staying in tribal hostels and ashram schools, and for an insurance cover of ₹1 crore for tribal students. This follows the recent deaths of three tribal students in a snake poisoning incident in Gadchiroli. The students have also sought compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families.
Other key demands include a safe, well-equipped central hostel building for female students in Pune and the immediate filling of vacant posts in hostels and ashram schools, including peons, security guards, and sanitation workers, either permanently or on a contractual basis until regular recruitment is completed.
Published – August 24, 2026 01:00 pm IST
