Third long march in Maharashtra highlights forest rights act lapses

Days after two long marches were held in different parts of Maharashtra to highlight the issues in the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, a third long march commenced from Rajur in Akole taluka of Ahilyanagar on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).

Over 5000 protestors participated in it. “We have been issued a notice by the police that action will be taken against us in case of any law and order situation. Instead of taking note of our legitimate demands, the government wants to muzzle our voices. We condemn this,” Ajit Navale, All India Kisan Sabha leader, said on Tuesday (February 24, 2026). The protest has been organised by the All India Kisan Sabha and Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU).

Meanwhile, the State government has called for a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday to discuss the issues raised by the protestors.

Previous long marches were held in Nashik and in Palghar a few weeks ago. They were primarily helmed by tribals for their land rights. The third march in Ahilyanagar saw thousands of farmers, government school employees, mid-day meal workers, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, construction labourers participation. The protestors intend to walk almost 150 kilometres to reach the Ahilyanagar Collectorate. Tuesday was the first day of the march. “We expect that more people will join the march as we move ahead,” Mr Navale said.

The protestors also said that they have been forced to call for a fresh agitation after their previous agitation was called off because the government had given them a word that their demands will be fulfilled, but no developments had taken place since the protest was called off. “We were given a promise that measures to resolve our issues will be implemented. It has been almost three years since then,” Mr Navale said.

The demands pertain to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, land ownership rights, fallow land rights, and MSP for tribals’ crops. The government employees at Anganwadis and ASHA centres have demanded that their salaries should be credited on a timely basis, and that they should not be overburdened with additional responsibilities which take away from their core duties.

“Children of construction labourers should be given scholarships. Ambit of medical insurance should be restored. All construction labourers should be registered. Pension of Rs. 5000 should be given for construction labourers above 60 years of age. Data packs should be given to ASHA workers working through online mode. Freshly cooked meals should be given in anganwadis instead of packaged THR (Take Home Ration). The government should provide good-quality food instead of substandard quality. Anganwadis should not be privatised,” the demands submitted by the protestors stated. The Hindu has accessed a copy of the eight-page letter.

The protestors also said that their objections about the Nashik-Pune high-speed railway have not been addressed for years. They raised concerns about the supply of potable water too.

Guardian Minister of Ahilyanagar Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said that the government had taken note of the protest and had called for a high-level meeting of all the concerned departments in the State Secretariat on Wednesday (February 24, 2026). Officials and Ministers of Labour Department, Health Department, School Education Department, Labour Commissioner, Collector of Ahilyanagar are among those who have been called for the meeting.