Pune tribal students extend hunger strike into ninth day over hostel rules

Tribal students at an educational institution in Pune have continued their hunger strike for a ninth consecutive day, pressing authorities to address grievances related to hostel accommodation and past incidents at a residential school facility.

The protesting students are demanding the removal of a hostel allocation guideline that reserves 70 percent of available vacancies for candidates from the same district, arguing the policy restricts access for students from other regions. The demonstration has intensified pressure on administrators to reconsider the admission criteria.

A second major demand centres on compensation for families affected by three snakebite deaths at a tribal residential school in Gadchiroli district. The students are seeking ₹1 crore compensation for each family impacted by these deaths, characterising the incidents as reflecting inadequate safety measures at the facility.

The health impact of the prolonged strike became apparent when two participating students required hospitalisation. Their conditions prompted concerns about the sustainability of the action, though the protest shows no signs of abating. Education officials have yet to announce substantive responses to the core demands, leaving negotiations at an impasse.