The protest by tribal students at a government tribal boys’ hostel in Pune has entered its 13th day, despite talks with Tribal Minister Dr. Ashok Ramaji Uike on the day before, which is Tuesday (August 25, 2026). Ten students met with the Minister at Mantralaya in Mumbai, but failed to secure assurances on their demands. According to Balakrishna Gawari, a member of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the discussions ended without any significant progress or agreement on their demands.
The students were told that they could not be given a definite written agreement to their demands, and that they could continue their protests if they wanted to. Vijay Waghmare, a Secretary in the Tribal Department, stated that the Ministry has issued a stay order on the major demand of the students regarding the Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 14, 2026. Notably, the Maharashtra government has scrapped the age limit for tribal hostels after Rahul Gandhi’s letter to the CM.
The students are seeking several key demands, including linking allowances and other financial provisions to the Consumer Price Index, increased protection for students staying in tribal hostels and ashram schools, and an insurance cover of ₹10 crore for every tribal student. They are also seeking compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of three tribal students who recently died in a snakebite incident in Gadchiroli. Additionally, the students are demanding action over 12,500 government posts reserved for Scheduled Tribes that have been occupied by non-tribal candidates using fake caste certificates.
They are also seeking the immediate filling of vacant posts in hostels and ashram schools, including posts for peons, security guards, and sanitation workers. Four students, Sharad Thokal, 26; Vijay Bhandble, 25; Rahul Dhanwe, 26; and Rajaram Padvi, 20, are continuing their hunger strike at the Adivasi Government Boys Hostel near the Hadapsar-Manjari border. Two other students, Shweta Girnak, 26; and Nikita Mechkar, 22, were admitted to the hospital on Monday evening due to poor health.
The students are also demanding a safe and well-equipped central hostel building for female students in Pune.
