MUMBAI – January 28, 2026
In a major breakthrough following a high-stakes meeting at the state secretariat, the Maharashtra government has offered a comprehensive personal guarantee to meet the central demands of the thousands of farmers and tribals currently participating in the Nashik-to-Mumbai Long March.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with a delegation of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) late Tuesday evening at his official residence, Varsha, following a marathon five-hour departmental review with key ministers.
Key Policy Agreements and Timelines
The government has committed to a time-bound implementation plan for several critical demands:
Forest Rights Act (FRA) Overhaul: Within the next three months, committees chaired by Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will re-examine all rejected or disputed land claims.
This move aims to rectify historical discrepancies between official records and actual land possession. Water Sovereignty: The state agreed to a concrete action plan to construct check dams along seven west-flowing rivers.
This infrastructure is intended to retain water for local tribal communities and the drought-prone Marathwada region, halting controversial plans to divert these resources to Gujarat. PESA Recruitment: The Chief Minister assured that the 50% recruitment limit for tribal posts under the PESA Act would be implemented immediately to fill thousands of vacant government positions in rural districts.
Agrarian Infrastructure: Commitments were made to transition agricultural electricity supply to daytime hours in critical districts and to purchase tribal forest produce—such as Strawberries, Bal Hirda, and minor millets—at fair prices via E-Crop survey verification.
Current Status of the Protest
Despite the significant concessions, the AIKS leadership has deferred the official withdrawal of the march until a collective consultation with the protesters takes place later today.
| Milestone | Expected Action |
| Khardi Meeting | Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan and the Nashik Collector will meet protesters today. |
| Written Assurance | The government will provide a formal, written copy of the meeting minutes and implementation timelines. |
| Final Vote | Thousands of protesters gathered at Khardi (Thane) will decide whether to call off the march or proceed toward Mumbai. |
AIKS leaders, including Dr. Ashok Dhawale and J. P. Gavit, emphasized that the movement remains active until the "written word" is delivered to the farmers on the ground. The protesters have spent the night at Bhatsa junction, awaiting the arrival of government officials before taking a final vote on the "Struggle's" conclusion.
