17 days after the protest, the Maharashtra government accepts all the demands of the tribal students

Students have been protesting for 16 days at the Manjari Boys’ Home in Pune, seeking the removal of restrictive rules, inflation-related allowances, security and infrastructure and insurance coverage. | Photo credit: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit

More than 17 days after tribal students went on hunger strike in various parts of Maharashtra, the state government on Saturday (29 August 2026) accepted all their demands. A delegation of tribal students walked out of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ ‘Varsha’ residence on Saturday (August 29) afternoon, saying they were satisfied with the meeting after the government gave them a time-bound schedule to implement key demands, including the ongoing recruitment for 12,500 tribal posts.

“We thank Rahul Gandhi, Rohit Pawar, Yashomati Thakur and other leaders. It was the first time that the demands of tribal students were heard on a national platform,” said tribal student leader Suraj Iccharam Kokani.

Tribal Affairs Minister Ashok Uike met the protesting students late on Saturday (August 29) night to submit a copy of the written assurances. The students subsequently announced the suspension of their agitation, saying that they would resume it if their demands were not met within a given time frame. The minister then offered juice to the protesting students.

Elaborating on the demands accepted by the government, he said the students were assured that their demands would be met within three months. “As per the directions of the Supreme Court, we will complete the recruitment. In three months, the number of vacancies will be ascertained. In the next three months, there will be recruitment for these posts. There will also be recruitment under PESA. For the safety and security of ashram shaala (residential tribal schools), measures will be taken after a third-party audit,” he said.

Government officials told The Hindu that independent recruitment would be held if necessary to meet the six-month deadline for filling up the posts. This was the main demand of the protesting students.

Seven student representatives from Nagpur, Pune and Nandurbar attended the meeting organized by the Chief Minister. The students protested for more than 14 demands, including better infrastructure in tribal schools and hostels, completion of ongoing recruitment drives and uploading of caste validity commission judgments on the website, among others. Officials said they provided written assurances to students along with a timetable. The students said they have received a copy of two new GRs regarding their demands.

Another key demand was action against fake adivasis claiming government jobs on fake tribal certificates. The Chief Minister said that action would be initiated against such fake job holders immediately. “According to a government order, those selected for government posts in the ST category have to submit their caste certificate within six months. But even if they failed to do so, no action was taken against them for 10 years,” Mr. Kokani said.

The government has given written assurance to the students about safety and security measures in tribal boarding schools to address the lack of infrastructure in them, has started a mess in the hostels in the next three months and stopped the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) food allowance, conducted a study on their demand for increased allocation of funds, filled the loopholes in the central kitchen system and reviewed the existing schools under the scheme to avoid scientific selection for cluster problems in SOP. aided ashram schools, extension of SWAYAM scheme which will now also be applicable for all courses for 11th standard students at taluka level. The government has also said that it will ensure that in future candidates submit their caste certificate before receiving their final appointment papers.

Published – 29 Aug 2026 17:51 IST