Pune: Tribal Student from Manjari Flags Hostel Rules, Pregnancy Tests Before Rahul Gandhi; He Offers to Join Their Ongoing Protest

Pune, 22nd August 2026: A woman student from a tribal community hostel in Manjari on Saturday urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene in the students’ ongoing protest over their demands, including changes to hostel rules and alleged discriminatory practices. Gandhi, in response, offered to join the students’ protest if they invited him.

The student raised the issue during Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune, saying the students had approached the minister in charge of the tribal development department but were told that the minister could not take a decision and that only the Chief Minister could intervene.

“If the minister cannot do anything, he should not sit in his chair,” the student told Gandhi.

She also highlighted the hostel’s rule requiring female tribal students to undergo a pregnancy test when they return after being away for more than a month. The students have also demanded that the upper age limit for staying in tribal hostels be increased from 30 to 35 years.

Gandhi told the students to invite him to their protest and said he would participate in it.

The students have been on an indefinite hunger strike at the tribal hostel in Manjari since August 13, with other students joining a sit-in in support. Some protesters have reportedly experienced deteriorating health.

The protest centres on a series of demands concerning tribal students and employees. The students are seeking the withdrawal of a government resolution issued on August 5, which they allege will adversely affect students in tribal hostels.

मांजरी पुणे विद्यार्थी आंदोलन उपोषणाचा आज नववा दिवस… तरीदेखील प्रशासन आणि सरकारचे लक्ष नाही! 😔

विद्यार्थ्यांच्या मागण्यांकडे अजून किती दिवस दुर्लक्ष करणार?

आमच्या हक्कांसाठीचा हा लढा सुरूच राहणार ✊🏾#आदिवासीविद्यार्थी #उपोषण #नववादिवस #विद्यार्थ्यांचाहक्क #आदिवासीवसतिगृह pic.twitter.com/Eat1yT8FDQ

— Praveen Gavit (@praveengavit11) August 21, 2026

Among their other demands are compensation of Rs 1 crore each to the families of three tribal girls who died of snakebite at a residential school in Gadchiroli, and criminal action for culpable homicide against officials and political representatives allegedly responsible for the incident.

The protesters have also demanded Rs 10 crore insurance cover for every student living in tribal hostels and residential schools, immediate filling of around 12,500 vacant tribal posts and other vacancies, and reinstatement and regularisation of employees removed under PESA-related provisions.

They have further sought strict implementation of the PESA Act in recruitment advertisements, withdrawal of government resolutions concerning caste validity certificates based on blood relations and the Banjara Study Committee, and better educational facilities and financial assistance for tribal students.

The protesters have warned of intensifying the agitation if the government fails to act on their demands.