Pune tribal students continue hunger strike for 10th consecutive day

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Tribal students on hunger strike at the Government Tribal Hostel in Pune’s Manjari. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Students of the Government Tribal Hostel in Hadapsar's Gopalpatti area continued their protests and hunger strike for the tenth day on Sunday (August 23, 2026) over long-pending concerns regarding hostel facilities, safety, allowances, and the implementation of government measures for tribal students.

Six students are currently participating in the hunger strike — Shweta Girnak, 26; Nikita Mechkar, 22; Sharad Thokal, 26; Vijay Bhandble, 25; Rahul Dhanwe, 26; and Rajaram Padvi, 20.

Mr. Bhandble and Mr. Dhanwe were admitted to Sassoon Hospital on Saturday after experiencing breathing difficulties and dehydration, but they have been discharged and rejoined the protest on Sunday, according to Akshay Ghode, a protestor with the students’ movement in Hadapsar.

According to the memorandum submitted by tribal students, they have demanded the withdrawal of the Maharashtra government's August 14, 2026, Government Resolution (GR) concerning 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.

Among their key demands is increased protection for students staying in tribal hostels and ashram schools and seeking an insurance cover of ₹10 crore for every tribal student, replacing the existing provisions under the Rajiv Gandhi student insurance scheme. This follows the recent deaths of three tribal students in a snake poisoning incident in Gadchiroli. The students have sought a compensation ₹1 crore each for the families.

The protesting students have also asked that pest-control measures to be carried out at hostels every two months instead of the existing six-month interval, citing concerns over student health and hostel cleanliness. They have sought the permanent display of the revised government resolution on notice boards at every government hostel so students can remain aware of their entitlements and facilities.

Another demand is for a safe and well-equipped central hostel building for female students in Pune. The memorandum also seeks the immediate filling of vacant posts in hostels and ashram schools, including posts for peons, security guards, and sanitation workers, either permanently or on a contractual basis until regular recruitment is completed.

The students have further demanded changes to the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, seeking removal of the condition that students can apply for the scheme only if they fail to secure hostel admission. They want students to be allowed to choose the scheme voluntarily while applying for hostel admission.

The memorandum also calls for all government and aided ashram schools in Maharashtra to be modernised and equipped along the lines of Eklavya Model Residential Schools.