Mon Apr 28 22:35:00 UTC 2025: ## Maharashtra Tribal Students Stage Protest Over Hostel Shortage
**Mumbai, April 29, 2025** – Hundreds of tribal students in Maharashtra are planning a long march to the Chief Minister’s residence on May 1st to protest a severe shortage of hostel accommodation, threatening to derail their education. The protest, organized by the Student Federation of India (SFI), follows months of unsuccessful negotiations with the Tribal Development Department (TDD).
The issue highlights the plight of students like 17-year-old Pratiksha Kavate, who faces a two-hour daily commute to college due to the lack of hostel space in Junnar Taluka, Pune district. The Junnar tribal hostel, designed for 80 students, currently houses 200, leaving at least 160 girls without accommodation. This overcrowding is mirrored across various districts in the state.
SFI claims that despite repeated pleas and a sit-in protest in Nashik last August, the TDD has failed to provide a viable solution. The organization’s executive member, Ramdas Prini Sivanandan, criticized the department’s inaction, stating it risks wasting an academic year for many students or forcing them into grueling commutes that hinder their studies.
Beyond accommodation, SFI’s letter to the TDD also addresses concerns about the quality of food in existing hostels, advocating for the reinstatement of the mess system over the current Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. They also demand the construction of new government buildings instead of relying on rented premises.
The TDD Commissioner, Leena Bansod, acknowledged the problem, stating that the government is exploring options to address the shortage and is awaiting a decision on a proposal for DBT under the Swayam Yojana. While acknowledging the time needed to secure new buildings and resources, Bansod expressed confidence that a solution is near. However, the students remain unconvinced, and their May 1st march promises to put further pressure on the authorities to act.
First Piper 