4 days ago
Maharashtra Government Offers Assurances After Tribal Students’ Hunger Strike
Tribal students in Maharashtra went on hunger strike to ask for jobs and safer schools.
Their protest began after three girls died from snakebites at a residential school in Gadchiroli.
Students also wanted action on 12,500 government posts and on people they said got jobs improperly.
They asked for better treatment of students living in tribal hostels and schools.
Minister Ashok Uike said the government accepted their demands after meetings with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The government promised written details and timelines for several actions.
It also ordered checks of tribal residential schools and cancelled a direct payment scheme.
The students said they were satisfied enough to step back, although they wanted the government to keep its promises.
Tribal students protested in Pune, Nagpur and Nashik over ST recruitment and residential-school conditions.
The agitation followed the deaths of three tribal girls from snakebites at a Gadchiroli residential school.
The government said it accepted the demands, while students sought written assurances and a timetable for implementation.
Officials promised action on 12,500 recruitment posts, PESA hiring, supernumerary positions and alleged bogus candidates.
The government ordered school audits, cancelled the DBT scheme and formed a committee to review the central kitchen system.
- Who
- Tribal student protesters, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike and student representatives.
- What
- The Maharashtra government offered assurances and announced measures addressing ST recruitment, alleged improper appointments and tribal residential-school conditions.
- Where
- The hunger strikes and related protests took place in Pune, Nagpur and Nashik, while the school deaths occurred in Gadchiroli district.
- When
- The announcement was made on Saturday; the second report says the hunger strike began August 13 and had entered its 16th day.
- Why
- The students sought recruitment to ST posts, action concerning alleged bogus candidates, compensation for the three deaths and improvements to tribal education and hostel facilities.
Government Position
Students’ Position
Status of demands
Government Position
Minister Ashok Uike said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had accepted all the protesters’ demands and promised a review meeting after three months.
Students’ Position
Student representatives said they were satisfied with the assurances but wanted written commitments, a concrete timetable and continued action on unresolved issues.
Recruitment and alleged bogus candidates
Government Position
The government said it would identify vacancies, address recruitment issues and act against candidates lacking required caste-validity certificates wherever applicable.
Students’ Position
Students said 12,500 posts had allegedly been taken by bogus candidates and demanded their recruitment; they also sought action against people they said remained in service without caste-validity certificates.
Ending the protest
Government Position
Uike appealed to the hunger strikers to withdraw their protest and return to their studies after the government’s assurances.
Students’ Position
Student leader Saurabh Bande said the students were taking a step back after 16 days, while the reports differ on whether the hunger strike was fully called off.
Key facts
- Main recruitment demand
- Students sought recruitment against 12,500 ST posts, which they said had allegedly been taken by bogus candidates.
- Recruitment timetable
- The government said vacant-post data would be collected within three months, with recruitment to begin in the following three months, according to a student leader.
- PESA recruitment
- Recruitment had been completed for nine of 17 cadres covered by the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act; directions were issued for the remaining cadres.
- Supernumerary posts
- The government said it would determine the number of posts within three months and complete the process within six months.
- School oversight
- Third-party audits were ordered for aided and government-run tribal residential schools.
- Other measures
- The government cancelled the direct benefit transfer scheme and appointed a committee to review the central kitchen system within 15 days to one month.
- Compensation demand
- Students demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of the three girls who died from snakebites at a Gadchiroli ST residential school.
Quotes
Tribal student representatives
Representatives of the protesting tribal students
“We attended the meeting along with our Tribal Minister Ashok Ji, students, and other colleagues. A positive discussion was held with everyone. Chief Minister accepted the demands. Written assurances from the government will also be provided. The process will be completed soon.”
freepressjournal.in
“The first demand was for recruitment against the 12,500 posts allegedly taken by bogus candidates. The CM has said that the government will collect the complete data on these posts within three months and start the recruitment process in the following three months.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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