Pune tribal students’ hunger stir continues on ninth day; two hospitalised

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Tribal students on hunger strike at the Government Tribal Hostel in Pune’s Manjari on August 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Two tribal students were hospitalised as an indefinite hunger strike by students at the Government Tribal Hostel in the Manjari area of Maharashtra’s Pune district continued on its ninth day on Friday (August 21, 2026).

Five students are currently on hunger strike to draw the government’s attention to issues concerning the tribal community. Vijay Bhanbdle, 22, and Rahul Dhanwe, 24, were admitted to Sassoon Hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties and dehydration and are currently undergoing treatment, protester Navnath More said.

The other protesters on hunger strike are Nikita Metkar, 22, Shweta Girnak, 26, and Sharad Thokal.

The students are demanding the withdrawal of the government resolution issued on August 5, which imposes age restrictions and conditions relating to academic breaks that they consider unreasonable.

The students are opposing a provision that prohibits hostel residents from taking up employment. Protest leader Sharad Thokal said, “Why stop students from working part-time? Financial empowerment is necessary for some students. These students are over 18 years of age.”

The students have demanded the scrapping of the guideline reserving 70% of hostel vacancies for students from the same district, compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of three girls who died of snakebites at a tribal residential school in Gadchiroli, and registration of criminal cases for culpable homicide against officials held responsible for the deaths.

They have also sought the implementation of recruitment for 12,500 tribal posts, the reinstatement and permanent appointment of PESA employees who were relieved from service.

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