Tribal students in Nashik have called off their 13-day indefinite hunger strike following discussions with District Collector Ayush Prasad, but will continue their sit-in protest over demands concerning hostel facilities, safety in residential schools, tribal reservations, recruitment, PESA appointments, caste validity certificates and compensation for families of students who died in residential institutions.
The wider agitation, which began on August 13 across Nashik, Pune and Nagpur, entered its 17th day in Nashik on September 4. The immediate trigger for ending the fast was administrative action following the death of seven-year-old tribal student Srishti Suryavanshi at a government ashram school in Nashik’s Kalwan area, including the suspension of three officials and Rs 5 lakh financial assistance for her family.
The students, however, have said their broader movement will continue and have announced plans for an “Ulgulan March” towards Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. District Collector Ayush Prasad said the Tribal Development Minister remains in continuous contact with the students and that discussions are underway with the Tribal Development Department to resolve their concerns.
“Indeed, decisions have already been reached on many of the topics raised. The government is adopting a very positive stance and is actively striving to resolve all these issues,” Prasad told media. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also assured a positive approach, he added, with the stated aim of ensuring that no student leaves school or college to join protests.
Why Students Are Still Protesting
The decision to withdraw the hunger strike does not mean the students believe all their demands have been resolved. Their protest has evolved considerably since it began on August 13, when tribal students from Nashik, Pune and Nagpur opposed changes to government tribal hostel rules.
The dispute initially centred on revised hostel provisions, including eligibility and conduct-related rules that students said were restrictive. The Maharashtra government subsequently withdrew the controversial August 14 Government Resolution after sustained opposition.
Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike later said the government had agreed to address the students’ demands, while written assurances were provided during talks with protesters in Pune. The students’ concerns, however, now extend across the tribal education and employment system.
They are seeking improved hostel infrastructure, food and basic amenities, stronger safety arrangements in residential schools, protection of Scheduled Tribe reservations, speedy recruitment against vacant posts, implementation of PESA-related appointments and faster resolution of caste-validity certificates.
They have also sought compensation for the families of three tribal girls who died following a snakebite at an ashram school in Gadchiroli, as well as Rs 10 crore insurance coverage for students living in tribal hostels and residential schools.
The employment question is particularly significant. The protesters have demanded immediate action on around 12,500 vacant tribal posts, arguing that long-pending vacancies deprive tribal youth of opportunities in government services.
On September 2, Fadnavis directed departments and district administrations to complete recruitment for vacant posts in tribal and PESA areas within six months. He also asked authorities to submit detailed information on employees currently working against supernumerary posts and the original vacancies linked to those positions within two weeks, while making it clear that the six-month deadline would not be extended.
For the students, however, the question now is implementation. Their decision to continue the sit-in suggests that government assurances will be judged by whether recruitment, appointments, caste-validity cases and safety improvements actually move forward on the ground.
Deaths Put School Safety Under Scrutiny
The safety of tribal children in residential institutions has become one of the most emotionally charged issues behind the agitation. In Gadchiroli, six tribal girls were reportedly bitten by a snake inside an ashram-school hostel, with three subsequently dying.
The National Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of the incident and sought a report from the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, including details concerning allegations that students were sleeping on the floor because of a shortage of cots. The tragedy intensified concerns over infrastructure, healthcare and emergency preparedness in tribal residential schools.
The issue gained renewed urgency after the death of seven-year-old Srishti Suryavanshi at a government ashram school in Nashik’s Kalwan area. Following the incident, the administration suspended three officials, while the Tribal Development Department announced Rs 5 lakh financial assistance for her family. The action became an important factor in the Nashik protesters’ decision to withdraw their hunger strike.
The developments in Nashik followed a similar breakthrough in Pune, where tribal students at the Manjari government hostel ended a 17-day hunger strike on August 30 after Minister Ashok Uike met them and gave written assurances on their demands.
The Bombay High Court had also intervened amid concerns over the health of students on hunger strike, saying it did not want another child or student to die during the agitation. Uike subsequently said Chief Minister Fadnavis would hold a review meeting after three months to assess progress on the commitments made to the students.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The decision to end an indefinite hunger strike while continuing a peaceful sit-in offers an opportunity for both the students and the Maharashtra government to move towards a more constructive phase of the dispute. The students have brought serious concerns about safety, education, employment and dignity into public view, and their persistence has prompted concrete administrative responses.
At the same time, prolonged hunger strikes carry real risks, particularly when young people are involved. The government’s assurances must therefore be followed by transparent timelines, regular public updates and meaningful consultation with student representatives and tribal communities. Recruitment deadlines, safety audits and official inquiries should translate into measurable improvements rather than remain promises on paper.
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