Nashik Tribal Farmers' March to Mumbai Enters Third Day as CM Fadnavis Offers Assurances
The historic foot march of tribal farmers from Nashik to Mumbai has now entered its third consecutive day, with thousands of determined protesters crossing the challenging Kasara Ghat and entering Thane district on Tuesday. This massive mobilization, organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha and Communist Party of India (Marxist), has drawn widespread support from tribal communities across Nashik district since it began on Sunday.
Government Meetings Yield Mixed Results
As the march progressed toward the state capital, a significant development occurred when a delegation of farmer representatives met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai. The delegation included prominent figures such as senior CPM politician Ashok Dhawale and former MLA Jeeva Gavit, along with other functionaries of the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha.
Ajit Nawale, a Kisan Sabha functionary who participated in the meeting, revealed that the chief minister provided assurances regarding the implementation of all previously agreed-upon demands. "Fadnavis promised that continuous follow-ups would be conducted at the ministerial level to ensure there are no gaps or lapses in the implementation process," Nawale stated.
Forest Rights Act Implementation Takes Center Stage
One of the most significant outcomes from the meeting was the agreement to re-examine all forest rights claims filed under the Forest Rights Act. According to Nawale, discrepancies had emerged between the land declared eligible for title and the land under actual possession due to incorrect reports submitted by the forest department.
"To correct this injustice affecting thousands of farmers, it was decided that all claims in every district will be re-verified," Nawale emphasized. This commitment represents a potential breakthrough in addressing long-standing grievances of tribal communities regarding land rights.
March Progresses Despite Earlier Setbacks
The foot march has covered substantial ground since its inception, with participants traveling nearly 60 kilometers over the first two days. After halting near the Ghatan Devi temple at the foothills of Kasara Ghat on Monday night, the marchers resumed their journey on Tuesday morning with renewed determination.
Earlier in the day, a separate meeting between farmer representatives and Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan proved less productive. Delegation members described the afternoon discussions as "futile" since no concrete outcomes were achieved regarding the farmers' demands.
Key Demands of the Protesting Farmers
The tribal farmers are advocating for a comprehensive set of demands that address fundamental issues affecting their communities:
- Full and proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act
- Issuance of separate 7/12 land extracts to eligible tribal landholders
- Allocation of water from west-flowing rivers to local residents
- Uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply for agricultural purposes
- Waiver of crop loans until 2025
- An end to the privatization of education, which they argue reduces access for tribal and rural students
Future Course of the Protest
Following Tuesday's march, the protesters halted for the night at Bhatsa Phata near Khardi in Thane district, along the busy Nashik-Mumbai national highway. Nawale confirmed that the march would continue as planned until the government offers credible steps toward resolving the long-pending issues affecting tribal and rural communities.
The decision regarding whether to call off the agitation will be made following discussions with other agitating tribal farmers on Wednesday. The talks with Chief Minister Fadnavis were expected to play a decisive role in determining the future course of this significant protest movement, which has captured statewide attention.
