Maharashtra Government To Give Written Assurances To Pune Tribal Students After 16-Day Hunger Strike Over ST Demands

Maharashtra Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike announced written assurances to protesting Adivasi students in Pune, who have been on a hunger strike demanding various issues, including compensation for victims' families of those who died in a Scheduled Tribe residential school. Uike stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has positively considered their demands.

The hunger strike began on August 13 and has lasted for 16 days. The students are demanding compensation for three victims who died of snakebites at a residential school in Gadchiroli, implementation of the pending recruitment process for 12,500 ST posts, and the reinstatement of PESA employees who were relieved from service. Uike discussed the issue with the students on August 18, 19, and 26, and mentioned that the matter was discussed positively with Chief Minister Fadnavis.

The students came with a clear objective to demand their rights and hoped the hunger strike would not be viewed as political. The government will provide written assurances to the students, and they will be asked to withdraw their hunger strike.