Stale meals to floor sleeping, Dipke flags ‘shocking’ conditions for Adivasi students

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has flagged what he described as appalling conditions faced by Adivasi students in Maharashtra’s residential schools and hostels, alleging that many are forced to eat stale food, sleep without proper beds and study in institutions lacking basic facilities. Dipke raised the issue after meeting tribal students protesting at Nashik’s Eidgah Maidan over conditions in ashramshalas and hostels. More than 100 students from different parts of Maharashtra have been participating in the agitation, with some going on an indefinite hunger strike to press their demands.

“The situation is very bad in educational institutions where tribal students study. Many schools lack drinking water, proper toilets, beds and even basic educational facilities,” Dipke said. He described the disparity in the quality of food, education and infrastructure available to tribal students as “completely unacceptable”.

Students allege stale food

A major grievance raised by the protesters concerns the centralised kitchen system. Students have alleged that stale and poor-quality food is supplied to ashramshalas and have demanded that fresh meals be provided instead.

They have also complained about inadequate bedding, unusable or poorly maintained toilets, insufficient drinking water and safety and healthcare shortcomings. Dipke displayed photographs purportedly showing the condition of toilets, drinking water and food at some tribal residential institutions while questioning the state government over the facilities provided to students.

The protesters have also claimed that 592 students have died in ashram schools in Maharashtra and have sought compensation for their families as well as action against officials allegedly responsible for lapses. The figure is a claim by the protesters and has not been independently verified.

Their other demands include ₹10 lakh insurance cover for every ashram-school student, an end to the alleged collection of money in the name of donations and an inquiry involving tribal organisations into alleged irregularities at the Tribal Sports Academy.

Dipke challenges Fadnavis

Dipke urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to visit ashramshalas himself for a “reality check”, questioning claims about improvements in government schools. He also challenged the state government to present a report card of what it had done to improve public education since coming to power.

The CJP founder urged the students to call off their hunger strike because of concerns over their health but asked them to continue the agitation until their demands were addressed. He said the movement could be taken to Mumbai if the government failed to respond.

“If necessary, we will march to Mumbai together,” Dipke said, arguing that taking the agitation to the state’s power centre would put greater pressure on the government.

The protest has also drawn attention from other political leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met a delegation of the protesting tribal students during his visit to Nashik, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also met the protesters and extended support to their demands.

The agitation has put renewed focus on living and educational conditions in Maharashtra’s tribal residential institutions, with students seeking concrete and time-bound action rather than assurances.