Tribal students in Maharashtra demand quality education, jobs nine years overdue

In Manjari village on Pune's outskirts, tribal college students have sustained a protest for over two weeks, escalating their long-standing grievances against the Maharashtra government through a hunger strike. The demonstrators, many of them first-generation college-goers from Adivasi communities, say their concerns about educational quality and hostel facilities have been systematically ignored for years.

The students are demanding implementation of a Supreme Court mandate from nine years ago that assured employment opportunities for tribal youth. They argue that despite the court's directive, the state government has failed to fulfill this obligation, leaving thousands of Adivasi young people without promised job prospects.

The protest highlights broader challenges faced by tribal students in Maharashtra's higher education system. Beyond employment guarantees, the protesters are calling for urgent improvements to hostel infrastructure and the overall quality of education available to Adivasi communities, citing inadequate facilities that have hampered their academic progress.

The use of a hunger strike signals the students' desperation after what they characterize as years of being unheard by government authorities. As first-generation college-goers, these young Adivasis represent a significant step forward for their communities, yet they remain caught between aspiration and systemic barriers that the state has yet to address.