Pune: Deliberations with tribal students lasted for nearly six hours in a marathon meeting on Wednesday, but the deadlock between them and the tribal minister failed to reach a conclusion. While govt had earlier accepted some demands of the students, the latter continued with their protest in the absence of any written assurance.State tribal minister Ashok Uike in a late night press meet stated that govt will continue discussions and urged students to revoke their hunger strike.At least 800 students from various districts have been on a protest since the past two weeks, with six of them on a hunger strike during the same period. The students have been demanding increased allowance, relocating tribal hostels in central areas of the cities, compensation for students in case of untoward incidents in ashram schools, protecting reserved posts under ST category, action against bogus certificates, withholding degrees of students admitted on conditional validity, cancellation of DBT and decentralization of kitchens, providing anti-snake venoms and medical facilities in ashram schools, reinstate eligible employees and re-designation of ST roster from point 5 to point 2.After Wednesday’s long parley, Uike told reporters, “On Aug 18-19 as well as Aug 26, we had a positive discussion with the student delegation. The primary issues are DBT, bogus certificates and revoking the Aug 5 and 14 GRs. Some issues are technical and the students have given us an additional time of two days. We will finalize SOPs, govt resolutions, and take policy decisions as needed after discussions with the respective secretaries and officials. We will also look into those who secured jobs through bogus certificates. As a guardian, I request the students to take back their hunger strike.”However one of the representatives of the students’ delegation said, “Govt reassured us, but we are looking forward to some concrete steps being taken. Until then, we will continue with our protest.”Uike responded, “I am on my way to meet the students and I will convince them to give up their hunger strike. They can continue with their protest but remaining hungry for it is not the right way. We are worried about the health of our children.”Asked why he had not come earlier, Uike responded, “I apologise for that.”Late at night, Uike and state FDA minister Narhari Zirwal reached the ashram convince students to give up their hunger strike.Zirwal also requested the students to give up their hunger strike and said, ”I have also participated in many hunger strikes back in the day regarding tolls, but we would sneak in food and show it as fast unto death. I request the students to protest while consuming food, without harming their health. Trust govt and give us time as the minister requested.”Hundreds of students remained at the protest site near Manjari tribal boys hostel, showing solidarity with the six students on hunger strike. Suraj Kokani, a 31-year-old tribal student representative, said, “We have been in continuous dialogue with the minister, but there has been no concrete decision by govt.” Suraj Dhande, a 25-year-old student from Akola, said, ”I am preparing for competitive exams and we are protesting against various govt decisions. We insist that degrees of students be frozen until their conditionally valid ST certificates are verified. Over the years, govt has also failed to provide allowance at par with the current inflation. We get only Rs4,500 for food per month, which comes once every three months. This is not sufficient.”Following student protests, on Aug 20, state govt withdrew its controversial Aug 14 GR, officially scrapping the 30-year upper age limit for admission to govt-run tribal hostels. The govt has also held back its controversial GR mandating pregnancy tests for tribal girls returning from holidays after a period of a month.But girls at the protest site said these practices continue unofficially. Snehal Waje (22), a student living at Gopalpatti tribal hostel, said, “Until last year, girls everywhere were subjected to these tests. Many girls in other districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions also say they are still subjected to these tests. Such tests change the perception of doctors at govt hospitals when they look at a tribal girl.”Shweta*, another tribal student living at the hostel, said, ”The hostel is in a deplorable condition with frequent rat and snake infestations. We do not have regular clean drinking water or even electricity. When we complain to officials about these rodents and reptiles, they mock our issues and ask how tribals can be scared of snakes? Have we come to the city to catch snakes?”Doctors said the prolonged hunger strike presents a risk to the health of the students. Dr Manoj Thowre, community health officer at Loni PHC, said, ”Over the past few days, the students have been admitted to hospital multiple times and we have been treating them at the rural hospital and at Sassoon hospital. However, they simply return to the hunger strike after treatment. They refuse to take any ORS or tablets. They have all lost 2-3kg. If a human continues to remain hungry for such a prolonged period, vital organs like the kidney and liver start to swell and eventually may fail due to hypovolemic shock. Ketosis has started at the microcellular level for these students, which is risky.”
