Farmers’ march called off on Day 2 after govt assurances

Organised by the AIKS and other Left-backed organisations to draw attention to the non-implementation of the Forest Rights Act, which recognises the rights of forest-dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources, in Maharashtra, hundreds of tribal farmers began the long march to Loni, the hometown of Vikhe Patil, on Wednesday afternoon braving the scorching sun.

Speaking to The Indian Express, AIKS leader Ajit Nawale said they decided to call off the march as most of their demands on implementation of the Forest Rights Act, better compensation for crops and better remuneration for anganwadi workers were accepted by the government.

State Labour Minister Suresh Khade and Tribal Affairs Minister Vikaykumar Gavit also attended the meeting.

Vikhe Patil and Gavit said the state government has given orders to stop anti-encroachment drives against tribals cultivating or living on forest land. Also, local and state-level committees which scrutinise and issue community and individual rights have been asked to sympathetically consider the pending claims of the farmers.

Maharashtra’s track record on implementation of the Forest Rights Act is anything but good. Proper implementation of the Act has been one of the key demands of the AIKS, which draws the bulk of its support from tribal belts of the state. Majority of those who participated in the long march were tribal farmers.