Pune tribal students’ protest enters 13th day as talks with Tribal Minister yield no breakthrough, say students

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The students’ protest at a government tribal boys’ hostel in Pune continued for the 13th day on Tuesday (August 25, 2026), a day after ten students met Tribal Minister Dr. Ashok Ramaji Uike at Mantralaya in Mumbai but failed to secure assurances on their demands.

Vijay Waghmare, a Secretary in the Tribal Department, said that the Ministry has issued a stay order on the major demand of the students, that is, regarding the Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 14, 2026. “The government has met the major demand of the students regarding the Hostel Admissions GR. We have continued to interact with them and responded positively to their other demands. However, it will take time for putting them into action,” he said.

According to Balakrishna Gawari, a member of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the discussions ended without any significant progress or agreement on their demands, and they were asked to continue their protests. “They told us that they could not give us a definite written agreement to their demands, and that we could continue the protests if we wanted to,” he said.

Mr. Gawari also said that the students sought action over an alleged 12,500 government posts reserved for Scheduled Tribes that had been occupied by non-tribal candidates using fake caste certificates. “Those posts should be made vacant and should be filled with deserving people who belong to the Scheduled Tribe, and action should be taken against fake adivasis,” Mr. Gawari said.

Sharad Thokal, 26; Vijay Bhandble, 25; Rahul Dhanwe, 26; and Rajaram Padvi, 20, are continuing their hunger strike at the Adivasi Government Boys Hostel near the Hadapsar-Manjari border. Shweta Girnak, 26; Nikita Mechkar, 22 were admitted to the hospital on Monday evening due to poor health.

Some important demands the tribal students are seeking are that allowances and other financial provisions be linked to the Consumer Price Index so that they increase annually in line with inflation. increased protection for students staying in tribal hostels and ashram schools, and an insurance cover of ₹10 crore for every tribal student. This follows the recent deaths of three tribal students in a snakebite incident in Gadchiroli. The students have also sought compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families.

Other key demands include a safe and well-equipped central hostel building for female students in Pune and 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.

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