Adivasis to march from Bhiwandi to Mantralaya on October 27 over forest rights claims

Adivasis will march from Bhiwandi in Thane district to Mantralaya in south Mumbai on October 27. A tribal organisation will lead the march. It demands that pending forest rights claims be acted on within a fixed time, that people get access to government documents, and that tribal children receive free and good education.

Shramjivi Sanghatana announced the agitation at a press conference on Saturday. It will be held under the banner of the Samvidhan Haqq Sangharsh Morcha. The organisation said the aim of the march is to secure a written commitment from the state government on issues that have been stuck for years for tribal communities.

Sita Ghatal of Shramjivi Sanghatana said the organisation would not be satisfied with verbal assurances alone and wants clear decisions from the government. "The tribal community will no longer accept vague verbal assurances. Until we get clear written decisions, this march will not be called off. The main demands include a guarantee of free and good education up to Class 12 and a written promise that all pending claims under the Forest Rights Act will be fully settled by December 15 this year," Ghatal said.

The organisation wants the government to fix a firm deadline for disposing of pending claims under the Forest Rights Act. It also wants eligible applicants to get a decision on their applications.

The lack of necessary government documents is also a major issue for the organisation. Ghatal said thousands of Adivasis still do not have Aadhaar cards. This could make it difficult for them to access government services and welfare schemes.

The march also seeks to draw attention to the difficulties of people living in remote villages and hamlets, where access to government services and administrative help may be limited.

According to Ghatal, Shramjivi Sanghatana hopes at least one lakh people will join the march. Preparations are under way in tribal hamlets, and women are helping arrange food for those joining the march.

The organisation said more than 1,500 volunteers will be deployed to manage arrangements and maintain order. They will also arrange drinking water, sanitation and medical help for those attending. Ghatal said special arrangements are being considered for the large number of women expected.

The organisers have described the agitation as an effort to press the government for concrete decisions. Tribal communities say these issues have gone unresolved for years. The demands include action on forest rights claims and access to necessary documents, along with a promise of free and good education up to Class 12.