Daijiworld Media Network - Pune
Pune, Aug 24: The indefinite hunger strike by tribal students at the government tribal boys’ hostel in Manjari on Pune’s outskirts entered its 11th day on Monday, with the protesters continuing to press the Maharashtra government to address their demands.
According to reports, four students participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised after their health deteriorated during the prolonged agitation. The students have been protesting over several issues concerning government tribal hostels and educational support.
The protest at the hostel near the Hadapsar-Manjari border is linked to the Maharashtra government's recent changes to rules governing admission to tribal hostels. Students had opposed an Aug 5 government resolution that introduced restrictions on hostel residents participating in hunger strikes, protest marches and similar activities, besides setting an upper age limit for hostel admission.
Following protests across Maharashtra, the Tribal Development Department issued a revised resolution on August 14. The government removed the explicit restrictions on students participating in protests and increased the maximum age for hostel admission from 26 to 30 years. However, the protesting students have continued their agitation, demanding that the age restriction be removed completely.
The government has maintained that students who cannot obtain hostel accommodation can avail themselves of financial assistance under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana. The revised resolution increased the hostel admission age limit to 30 years in line with the eligibility under the scheme.
According to the latest reports, students have raised around 40 demands. These include withdrawal of the 2026 changes concerning tribal hostels and implementation of the earlier 2011 policy, filling around 12,500 vacant posts, increasing financial assistance provided under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, providing computers in hostels, completing admission procedures on time and allowing six months for submission of caste validity certificates.
The students are also demanding hostels in central parts of cities, unemployment allowance for unemployed tribal youth, bus passes for students and a region-wise survey of tribal communities in Maharashtra.
The protesters have alleged that funds meant for tribal development are not being adequately utilised for basic facilities and development, leaving students facing several problems in government hostels.
Tribal Development Department project officer Ganesh Ivanate said demands falling within his authority would be addressed and that a committee had been formed to facilitate discussions between the two sides. He expressed hope that a solution would be reached soon.
The agitation has also received political attention. Several political leaders, including Nandurbar MP Goyal Palve, MLA Rohit Pawar, former MLA Kapil Patil, Yashomati Thakur and Hanumant Pawar, reportedly visited the protest site and met the students.
The students are now seeking further intervention from Tribal Development Minister Prof Dr Ashok Ramaji Uike and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A delegation of students is expected to travel to Mumbai to meet the minister at Mantralaya and present their demands.
The Maharashtra government had earlier held discussions with representatives of the protesting students. Tribal Development Department secretary Vijay Waghmare held a video conference with students, followed by a meeting between Minister Ashok Uike and protesters. The minister subsequently assured that no tribal student would be forced to discontinue education because of a lack of hostel accommodation and appealed to students to withdraw their agitation.
Despite these assurances and the revision of the hostel rules, the Manjari students have continued their hunger strike, demanding further action on their outstanding issues. Four students being hospitalised has added urgency to the standoff, with the protesters seeking a concrete response from the State government.