Maharashtra Government accepts demands of tribal students, appeals them to call off hunger strike
The demands concerned the recruitment of Scheduled Tribes candidates in government service and the improvement in conditions at residential schools for tribal children
Maharashtra's Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike announced on Saturday (August 29, 2026) that the government had accepted all the demands of tribal student protesters on a hunger strike in Pune, Nagpur and Nashik. The protesters had been highlighting the need for recruitment of Scheduled Tribes candidates in government service and improvements in conditions at tribal residential schools.
The protest began following the deaths of three tribal girls at a residential school in Gadchiroli district due to snakebite. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after discussions with the protesting students, accepted all their demands. The government assured the students that a review meeting would be held in three months to assess the implementation of decisions, and that a committee would be constituted to address recruitment concerns under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and other relevant laws.
The government also directed third-party audits of tribal residential schools to identify deficiencies and take prompt action. Additionally, the government canceled the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme as requested by the students, and assured that action against ineligible candidates appointed since 2018 would commence from Sunday (August 30).
The students thanked state Congress leaders, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and media support for bringing attention to their cause.
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