Tribal Students End 17-Day Hunger Strike in Pune's Manjari After Government Assurances
A 17-day hunger strike staged by tribal students from Ashram Schools in Pune's Manjari area has concluded following assurances from the state government, the Maharashtra Government informed the Bombay High Court on Monday.
The resolution came after a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Tribal Development Minister, and representatives of the protesting students. Chief Government Pleader Neha Bhide informed a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad that all protesting students were stable and none required hospitalisation.
"Medical care was provided to the protesting students. No student is hospitalised. All students are stable. The hunger strike ended after the Chief Minister met the representatives," Bhide submitted to the court.
Minutes of the meeting submitted to the High Court revealed that the state government agreed to set up a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to investigate the death of a student caused by food poisoning. The administration also decided to reintroduce direct mess services in hostels rather than relying on the Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) scheme for food supplies.
The Bench took the minutes on record and instructed the state to submit an affidavit outlining the implementation of these decisions. In addition, the court converted the writ petition into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to oversee and monitor infrastructure across Ashram Schools throughout Maharashtra.
The High Court had intervened in the matter during the previous week after learning about the deteriorating health of a protesting student. At the time, Acting Chief Justice Ghuge noted that the court did not want any student to lose their life, directing authorities to ensure medical care, hospitalisation if necessary, and food supplies for the demonstrators.
The hunger strike was launched over poor conditions and inadequate facilities in tribal Ashram Schools. The demonstration was triggered by the death of a student from food poisoning after eating food at an Ashram School, along with the deaths of three other students from snake bites in separate incidents.
The Bombay High Court is scheduled to hear the matter next on September 3.
