आदिवासी विद्यार्थ्यांचा नाशिक ते मुंबई 'लाँग मार्च' सुरू; शासकीय...
राज्यस्तरीय सकल आदिवासी विद्यार्थी आंदोलन कृती समितीच्या वतीने आदिवासी विद्यार्थ्यांच्या विविध प्रलंबित मागण्यांसाठी नाशिक ते मुंबई राजभवन असा 'ट्रायबल...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
Tribal 'Gen Z' Protest Begins Foot March to Raj Bhavan
In a significant escalation of an ongoing multi-week protest, hundreds of tribal students and youth activists launched a 180-kilometer foot march from Nashik to Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on September 28. Organized under the banner of the Sakal Adivasi Vidyarthi Andolan Kruti Samiti, the demonstration—dubbed the 'Tribal Gen Z Ulgulan'—aims to draw state government attention to severe systemic deficiencies in government-run tribal residential schools (ashramshalas) and hostels.
Demonstrators gathered at the historic Idgah Maidan and Anant Kanhere Maidan in Nashik before setting off, chanting slogans such as "Ladenge, Jeetenge" (We will fight, we will win) and demanding the immediate resignation of Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike. The march marks a decisive shift in strategy after weeks of localized sit-in demonstrations failed to secure binding written guarantees from the state administration.
Police Restraints and Security Measures in Nashik
The police administration refused official permission for the foot march, citing urban traffic disruptions, ongoing Sinhastha Kumbh Mela infrastructure work, and road repairs along the Nashik-Mumbai National Highway. Officials issued formal prohibitory notices under Section 144 to prevent large public gatherings in the city.
As the assembly convened at Idgah Maidan, police personnel deployed heavy security forces and preemptively detained several core student leaders. Despite these law enforcement interventions, over 300 remaining student protesters breached police cordons around 2:30 PM and commenced their journey on foot toward Mumbai. Police contingents continue to monitor the march along the highway corridor to prevent traffic blockades and maintain public order.
Core Issues: Ashramshala Safety, Recruitment, and Food Quality
The ongoing agitation stems from unresolved grievances spanning the past two months regarding living conditions in state-run tribal educational institutions. Key demands submitted by the student committee include:
* Infrastructure and Safety: Immediate repair of dilapidated residential school buildings, provision of hot water facilities, and improved basic sanitation.
* Scrapping Central Kitchens: Scrapping the centralized kitchen catering system, which agitators allege delivers poor-quality, unhygienic meals transported over long distances.
* Staffing Recruitment: Rapid recruitment to fill all vacant teaching and administrative posts across tribal development schools.
* Compensation and Accountability: Financial compensation and independent investigations for families of tribal students who suffered accidental deaths, including snakebites, while residing in government institutions.
Political Interventions and State Response
The movement previously gained national visibility when Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with the protesting tribal students in Nashik. Following that engagement, state officials promised high-level talks with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. However, student representatives state that promised discussions failed to materialize into binding written policy commitments, prompting the march to Raj Bhavan.
In response, the Tribal Development Department stated that a seven-page response detailing accepted demands had been shared with student delegates on September 25. Department representatives noted that tenders and work orders have been initiated for basic amenities, though policy decisions regarding central kitchens and broader structural changes remain under review. The march is scheduled to proceed in daily legs through October 4 upon reaching Mumbai.