Third long march in Maharashtra highlights forest rights act lapses

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

More than 5,000 protesters attended the demonstration. “We have received notice from the police that action will be taken against us in case of any law and order situation. The government wants to silence our voices instead of considering our legitimate demands. We condemn this,” All India Kisan Sabha leader Ajit Navale said in a statement on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The protest was organized by the All India Kisan Sabha and the Center for Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

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

Earlier long marches were held in Nashik and Palghar a few weeks ago. They were primarily governed by tribes due to their land rights. Thousands of farmers, government school workers, midday meal workers, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers and construction workers participated in the third march in Ahilyanagar. Protesters plan to walk around 150 kilometers to reach Ahilyanagar Collection Centre. Tuesday was the first day of the march. “We expect more people to join the march as it progresses,” Mr. Navale said.

The protesters said that they had to call for a new agitation after their previous agitation was canceled as the government promised them that their demands would be met, but there has been no development since the cancellation of the protest. “We were promised that measures would be implemented that would solve our problems. Almost three years have passed since then,” Mr. Navale said.

The demands relate to implementation of the Forest Rights Act, land tenure rights, rights to fallow land and MSP for crops of tribals. Government employees at Anganwadis and ASHA centers have demanded that their salaries be deposited on time and that they are not overburdened with additional responsibilities that take away from their core duties.

“Children of construction workers should be given scholarships. Health insurance cover should be reorganized. All construction laborers should be registered. Construction laborers above 60 years of age should be given a pension of Rs 5000. ASHA workers working in online mode should be given data packs. Freshly cooked meals should be given in anganwadis instead of packaged THR (Take Home Ration). The government should provide quality food instead of substandard quality. It should not be given to anganwadis. Protesters should not “It was privatized in line with their demands.” Hindu He accessed a copy of the eight-page letter.

The protesters also stated that their objections regarding the Nashik-Pune high-speed rail have not been addressed for years. They also expressed concern about drinking water supply.

Ahilyanagar Conservation Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the government has taken note of the protest and called for a high-level meeting of all relevant departments in the State Secretariat on Wednesday, February 24, 2026. Those invited for the meeting include officials and ministers of Labor Department, Health Department, School Education Department, Labor Commissioner, Ahilyanagar Collector.