Mumbai/Pune, 25 August 2026: A delegation of tribal students from the Government Tribal Hostel in Hadapsar, Pune, met Maharashtra Tribal Development Minister Prof. Dr. Ashok Ramaji Uike at Mantralaya in Mumbai on Tuesday as their indefinite hunger strike entered its 12th day, according to reports.
Students insist fast will continue until written assurances
The protest, which began on 13 August, was organised to press for the immediate withdrawal of two recent government resolutions (GRs) dated 5 August and 14 August 2026. The students say the new GRs impose what they consider to be stringent and unreasonable conditions on tribal hostel residents.
Protesters have said they will not end the fast without written assurances from the state government addressing their demands. The delegation met Minister Uike to press for a formal response and concrete action on policy changes affecting tribal hostels.
Core demands and local grievances
According to the representation submitted and reported accounts, the students’ principal demands include:
- Immediate repeal of the GRs of 5 and 14 August 2026 and restoration of the November 2011 GR as the basic structure.
- Removal of the 30-year upper age limit for hostel residency and abolition of certain medical-condition clauses which the students say bar eligible youth from staying in hostels.
- Scrapping of a district-level 70% reservation policy and ending restrictions on part-time work for students.
- Annual indexation of the student maintenance allowance in line with the Consumer Price Index to offset inflation.
- Construction of a separate central girls’ hostel in Pune and other infrastructure improvements at existing hostel campuses.
- Provision of a ₹1 crore insurance cover for students and immediate recruitment to fill more than 12,500 vacancies in state-run hostels and ashram schools.
“The protesters insist on written guarantees before they call off the hunger strike,” reported accounts said following the meeting at Mantralaya.
Why this matters for Pune
Hadapsar is home to the Government Tribal Hostel whose students say the new GRs will reduce access to residential education and livelihoods support that many tribal youth rely on. Pune city hosts sizeable tribal populations who depend on state-run hostels and ashram schools for boarding, schooling and vocational opportunity. Any lasting change to hostel rules or allowance structures will have direct consequences for students and families in the city and surrounding talukas.
| Item | Students' demand |
|---|---|
| GRs | Repeal GRs of 5 & 14 Aug 2026; revert to Nov 2011 GR |
| Age limit | Remove 30-year upper age limit for hostel stay |
| Allowances | Index maintenance allowance annually to CPI |
| Safety & infrastructure | Construct central girls’ hostel in Pune; improve campus facilities |
| Insurance & recruitment | Provide ₹1 crore insurance; fill 12,500+ vacancies |
Students have also raised concerns about safety on campuses and adequate maintenance, demanding specific upgrades to facilities at Hadapsar and other hostel sites across the state.
Administration response and next steps
Following the meeting, the delegation sought a written commitment from the Tribal Development Ministry on all the listed points. As of the latest reports, no formal written assurance had been publicly released. The protesters have said they will continue their fast until they receive clear, written guarantees addressing their demands.
The situation will be watched closely by civic groups and education advocates in Pune. If the government agrees to alter the GRs or to a timetable for filling vacancies and providing insurance cover, the strike could be called off. Otherwise, the prolonged fast raises immediate concerns about the health and welfare of the students involved.
Reporting from Pune and Mantralaya, the accounts cited the delegation’s meeting with Minister Uike and the protesters’ stated position on continuing the hunger strike without written assurances.
