Protesting tribal students from Pune are heading to Mumbai to meet Minister Ashok Uike. They are demanding ₹1 crore insurance cover and enhanced safety in hostels.

  • Pune tribal students are on their 11th day of a hunger strike.
  • Demands include ₹1 crore insurance cover and improved hostel security.
  • A delegation will meet Tribal Development Minister Prof. Dr. Ashok Ramaji Uike in Mumbai today.

Pune: The protest by tribal students in Pune has intensified as their hunger strike entered its 11th consecutive day on Monday, August 24, 2026. According to Balakrishna Gawari of the Students Federation of India, a group of ten students is traveling to Mumbai to meet the Adivasi Tribal Minister, Prof. Dr. Ashok Ramaji Uike, at the Mantralaya. The protesters have also expressed a strong desire to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to voice their grievances directly.

Core Demands of the Protesters

The hunger strike is being led by six students—Shweta Girnak, Nikita Mechkar, Sharad Thokal, Vijay Bhandble, Rahul Dhanwe, and Rajaram Padvi—at the Adivasi Government Boys Hostel near the Hadapsar-Manjari border. Their primary objective is the withdrawal of the Maharashtra government's Government Resolution (GR) dated August 14, 2026, which they claim is detrimental to their interests.

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Key demands include:
1. Implementation of a ₹1 crore insurance cover for tribal students.
2. Linking allowances to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation.
3. Enhanced security measures in tribal hostels and ashram schools.
4. Immediate recruitment of staff, including security guards and sanitation workers, to fill vacant posts.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this movement is a direct response to systemic vulnerabilities in the tribal education infrastructure. The recent tragic incident in Gadchiroli, where three tribal students died due to snake poisoning, has acted as a catalyst. The students are now demanding ₹1 crore in compensation for the families of the deceased, highlighting a deep-seated lack of trust in current safety protocols.

The escalation of this hunger strike underscores a critical gap between administrative policy and the lived reality of tribal students in Maharashtra.

Historical Context

For years, tribal students have struggled with outdated financial provisions. They are calling for the government to revise the November 11, 2011, GR to reflect modern economic conditions. The lack of permanent staff and adequate infrastructure in hostels has been a recurring issue that continues to hinder the educational progress of tribal communities.

Did You Know?: Ashram schools are specialized residential schools designed to provide education to tribal children in remote areas of India.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is the primary trigger for the current protest?
Answer: The protest is driven by safety concerns, the need for inflation-linked allowances, and recent tragic deaths in Gadchiroli.

Question 2: Who are the students meeting in Mumbai?
Answer: They are scheduled to meet Tribal Development Minister Prof. Dr. Ashok Ramaji Uike.