Nashik: Hunger Strike Withdrawn, Tribal Activists Shift Protest To Mumbai With ‘Ulgulan Maha Morcha’

In Nashik, an indefinite hunger strike to protest inadequate facilities for students in tribal residential schools has come to an end after two weeks. Nevertheless, tribal activists are now gearing up for a shift in their protest strategy, moving it to Mumbai. The group plans to organize a massive Ulgulan Maha Morcha in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of Tribal Development Minister Dr Ashok Uike, as well as the removal of Secretary Vijay Waghmare and Commissioner Leena Bansode from their positions.

The sit-in protest in Nashik will persist, while the proposed march is scheduled for the following week to address the concerns of tribal students and hold the minister and officials accountable.

The tribal activist campaign across Maharashtra, which includes Abhijit Deepke, president of CJP, aims to bring attention to various issues faced by students in tribal hostels. These grievances include the absence of basic facilities, the discontinuation of the central kitchen system, accusations of financial exploitation in the name of donations, and the 593 deaths of hostel students over the past two years.

Tribal student organizations argue that Tribal Development Minister Dr Uike, Secretary Waghmare, and Commissioner Bansode are directly responsible for the deteriorating situation.

After two weeks of intensive hunger striking, leaders Rahul Pawara, Laxmi Jadhav, and Vivek Gavit demanded Dr Uike's resignation and the immediate removal of Waghmare and Bansode. Despite the Tribal Development Commissionerate's efforts to negotiate a resolution, protests and a sit-in continued to escalate in Nashik. On September 1, a large-scale Ulgulan Morcha was held at the Tribal Development Commissionerate, showcasing the protesters' determination and signaling their unwillingness to back down from their demands.