Saurabh Mukherjee
A massive farmers’ mobilisation led by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) culminated in a dramatic siege of the District Magistrate’s office in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, forcing the administration into negotiations and securing written assurances on several long-pending demands.
The agitation began on January 19, when around 50,000 farmers set out from Charoti in a long march towards Palghar.
Participants from eight tehsils across the district joined the protest, reaching Palghar after a 55-kilometre march that took three days. The march was organised to press for land rights, implementation of forest and land laws, and a range of livelihood-related demands affecting tribal and rural communities.
The long march and siege were led by AIKS All India President Ashok Dhawale, CPI(M) MLA from Dahanu- Vinod Nikole, AIKS General Secretary Vijoo Krishnan, CPI(M) Politburo member Mariam Dhawale, AIKS Maharashtra State Secretary Ajit Naole and other leaders, marking one of the largest farmer mobilisations in the region in recent years.
On Tuesday evening, the protest escalated into a sit-in, with thousands of tribal people, farmers and workers surrounding the Collectorate building.
The blockade left Palghar Collector Dr. Indurani Jakhar and several officials inside the premises, effectively trapping the administration and compelling it to open talks with the protest leaders.
According to AIKS president Ashok Dhawale, the farmers had initially sought permission to hold a sit-in within the Collectorate premises, but the administration denied the request.
With no alternative, the protesters blocked the Palghar–Boisar road, triggering major traffic disruptions. As the agitation intensified and all entry and exit points were blocked, the authorities announced that the road would remain closed indefinitely after evening.
Following nearly seven hours of negotiations, the administration issued a written statement agreeing to dispose of all pending applications under the Forest Rights Act by April 30. It also committed to registering and distributing fallow and benami lands among farmers.
A committee comprising the Additional District Collector and five representatives of the CPI(M) was constituted to oversee the implementation of these assurances.
Under pressure from the sustained protest, the administration also agreed to several local demands related to water rights and public services. These included priority allocation of dam water for drinking and irrigation, implementation of the employment guarantee scheme, enforcement of the PESA Act, filling vacant government posts, housing for the poor, completion of unfinished Jal Jeevan Mission works, curbing corruption in the public distribution system, and addressing long-standing issues in Zilla Parishad schools.
The CPI(M) called off the Collectorate siege only after receiving written commitments on these points.
The march was organised by AIKS with demands such as land rights for genuine cultivators, cancellation of smart meters, and implementation of land rights legislation in forest areas. It also saw participation from Left-affiliated organisations including Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Democratic Women’s Association, Students' Federation of India, Democratic Youth Federation of India and the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch.
The agitation began on January 19, when around 50,000 farmers set out from Charoti in a long march towards Palghar.
Participants from eight tehsils across the district joined the protest, reaching Palghar after a 55-kilometre march that took three days. The march was organised to press for land rights, implementation of forest and land laws, and a range of livelihood-related demands affecting tribal and rural communities.
The long march and siege were led by AIKS All India President Ashok Dhawale, CPI(M) MLA from Dahanu- Vinod Nikole, AIKS General Secretary Vijoo Krishnan, CPI(M) Politburo member Mariam Dhawale, AIKS Maharashtra State Secretary Ajit Naole and other leaders, marking one of the largest farmer mobilisations in the region in recent years.
On Tuesday evening, the protest escalated into a sit-in, with thousands of tribal people, farmers and workers surrounding the Collectorate building.
The blockade left Palghar Collector Dr. Indurani Jakhar and several officials inside the premises, effectively trapping the administration and compelling it to open talks with the protest leaders.
According to AIKS president Ashok Dhawale, the farmers had initially sought permission to hold a sit-in within the Collectorate premises, but the administration denied the request.
With no alternative, the protesters blocked the Palghar–Boisar road, triggering major traffic disruptions. As the agitation intensified and all entry and exit points were blocked, the authorities announced that the road would remain closed indefinitely after evening.
Following nearly seven hours of negotiations, the administration issued a written statement agreeing to dispose of all pending applications under the Forest Rights Act by April 30. It also committed to registering and distributing fallow and benami lands among farmers.
A committee comprising the Additional District Collector and five representatives of the CPI(M) was constituted to oversee the implementation of these assurances.
Under pressure from the sustained protest, the administration also agreed to several local demands related to water rights and public services. These included priority allocation of dam water for drinking and irrigation, implementation of the employment guarantee scheme, enforcement of the PESA Act, filling vacant government posts, housing for the poor, completion of unfinished Jal Jeevan Mission works, curbing corruption in the public distribution system, and addressing long-standing issues in Zilla Parishad schools.
The CPI(M) called off the Collectorate siege only after receiving written commitments on these points.
The march was organised by AIKS with demands such as land rights for genuine cultivators, cancellation of smart meters, and implementation of land rights legislation in forest areas. It also saw participation from Left-affiliated organisations including Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Democratic Women’s Association, Students' Federation of India, Democratic Youth Federation of India and the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch.
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