The Maharashtra farmers march towards Mumbai was called off after the state government assured a 28-member delegation that it would consider demands covering welfare payments, drought assistance, crop insurance and tribal land claims, according to a government release and farmer leader Ajit Navale.
The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha suspended its two-day march from Akole after representatives met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and five cabinet ministers at the Sahyadri state guesthouse. The meeting lasted about two hours, the report said.
The government said it would positively consider applications from tribal women who have been unable to complete the KYC process for the Ladki Bahin scheme. Women who have completed KYC but are awaiting payments will receive pending arrears immediately, according to the release citing Fadnavis.
Navale said the government had also indicated that it would take a positive decision on reinstating 8.1 million women from different sections who were removed from the scheme after failing to complete KYC. The report did not specify a timeline for the decision or the payment of the pending arrears.
The delegation also raised demands linked to agricultural assistance. Navale said the government assured drought-affected farmers of support beyond the norms prescribed under the National Disaster Response Fund. It also assured the release of two pending instalments under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi scheme.
The demand to increase the incentive grant to Rs 50,000 for farmers who regularly repay loans will be discussed by the loan waiver sub-committee, Navale said. The chief minister also expressed a positive stance on restoring cancelled triggers under the crop insurance scheme from next year, according to the farmer leader.
Tribal land rights were another major issue discussed at the meeting. Navale said the government had agreed to take legislative measures and issue government resolutions to address pending tribal land claim settlements. The delegation also sought water from Bhandardara dam for tribal communities and the scrapping of the eco-sensitive zone.
Police officials estimated that more than 7,000 farmers in 400 vehicles from over 20 districts had joined the march. After reaching Igatpuri in Nashik district on Monday, the protesters moved through the old Kasara Ghat route towards Shahapur on Tuesday. Highway traffic police diverted vehicles temporarily through the new Kasara Ghat highway to reduce disruption to commuters.
A separate protest, the Samvidhan Hakk Sangharsh Morcha led by Shramjeevi Sanghatna leader Vivek Pandit, brought together tribal residents from rural areas of Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Nashik and Pune. Their demands included settlement of pending forest land claims, land titles for eligible tribals, acceptance of local evidence for birth registration, drinking water and better education facilities.
Representatives of that protest separately met Fadnavis and cabinet colleagues. The protesters were expected to decide whether to call off their march to Mantralaya after the meeting, while Shinde was expected to address them on the outskirts of Thane city later on Tuesday.
