Hunger strike over 13 civic demands in Neral enters second day, no official visits site

A hunger strike over civic amenities and state highway issues in Neral village of Karjat taluka continued for a second day. So far, not a single official has come to the spot to hold constructive talks on the protesters' demands and decide on them. Villagers in Neral are angry at the non-cooperation of government officials.

Human rights activist Gorakh Shep began the fast on September 28 over 13 issues. These include the arbitrary functioning of the Neral gram panchayat, encroachments, the matter of forming a municipal council, questions relating to the solid waste management project, and the sale of land in the dumping ground area. The demands also cover encroachment around the Karjat-Kalyan state highway, the allotment of shops in Neral's commercial complex, and encroachment of the footpath on the village road.

The fast has the support of all political parties and social organisations in Neral village. Those backing it include the Neral Maitri Group, Azad Samaj Party, Yuva Navratrotsav Mandal, Karjat Taluka Agri Samaj Sanghatana, Hutatma Smarak Samiti, Karjat Press Club, Karjat Press Association, Manavadhikar Ayog Sanghatana, Neral Vikas Sangharsh Samiti, Suchna Adhikar Samajik Group, Dnyanmata Samajik Sanstha, Neral Vyapari Federation, Neral Lohana Samaj, Anti Corruption Board, Neral Taxi Sanghatana, Kisan Kranti Sanghatana and Neral Matheran Taxi Sanghatana. The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction), the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), the Congress and the RPI (Athawale faction) have also openly backed it.

The fast concerns matters linked to the Karjat panchayat samiti, the Neral gram panchayat, the Neral development authority, the tehsildar's office and the Public Works Department. The block development officer, the tehsildar, the zilla parishad and the PWD's deputy engineer should therefore have come to the spot and found a way forward. But the administration is taking no initiative, and resentment against government offices has grown in Neral.

Apart from the Neral police and the medical team of the Neral primary health centre, no government office has visited the protest site. Police officers and personnel came as part of the security arrangements, while doctors and staff from the health centre came to check Gorakh Shep's health. None of the officials responsible for the issues behind the fast has come to meet the protesters and work out a solution.

Gorakh Shep, a human rights activist, said that even though he has faced the prospect of bypass surgery, he is firm on the village's development. He said no one should use his health as an excuse or advise him to give up the fast. According to him, he had made it known when starting the fast that he would fast until the end of his life.