Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Government Accepts Demands of Protesting Tribal Students
Tribal students in Maharashtra held a hunger strike to press the government to address their concerns.
Reports say the protest lasted between 15 and 17 days.
Their demands included better facilities in tribal residential schools and more government jobs for Scheduled Tribes candidates.
The government said it accepted all the demands presented by student representatives.
It also agreed to prepare a schedule for filling 12,500 vacant posts.
The government said vacant posts would be identified within three months.
It scrapped the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme and ordered a committee to examine the central kitchen system.
The Bombay High Court ordered officials to provide medical care and food to the protesting students.
Student representatives said they were satisfied, while the government urged them to end the hunger strike and return to their studies.
The Maharashtra government accepted the demands of tribal students protesting in Pune, Nagpur and Nashik.
The students had been on hunger strike for 15 to 17 days, according to differing reports.
The demands include recruitment of Scheduled Tribes candidates and improved residential-school facilities.
The government agreed to create a time-bound plan to fill 12,500 vacancies and review progress after three months.
The Bombay High Court ordered medical care, food and hospital admission where necessary for the protesting students.
- Who
- Tribal students, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike, student representatives and the Bombay High Court.
- What
- The Maharashtra government accepted the demands of protesting tribal students, while the Bombay High Court ordered immediate medical support for them.
- When
- Saturday; reports differ on whether the hunger strike had lasted 15 or 17 days.
- Where
- The protests took place in Pune, Nagpur and Nashik, including at Manjari Hostel; the government announcement was made in Mumbai.
- Why
- The students were seeking government recruitment for Scheduled Tribes candidates, better facilities at tribal residential schools and action on related welfare concerns.
- Protest locations
- Pune, Nagpur and Nashik; one report specifically mentions Manjari Hostel.
- Hunger-strike duration
- 15 days according to one report and 17 days according to another.
- Vacancies
- The government agreed to prepare a time-bound schedule for filling 12,500 vacancies.
- Review timeline
- A review meeting will be held after three months to assess implementation.
- School facilities
- A committee will examine the central kitchen system and submit a report within 15 days to one month.
- Other government action
- The Direct Benefit Transfer scheme was scrapped.
- Court directions
- The Bombay High Court ordered appropriate medical care, food where necessary and hospital admission if required.
