Farmers march to Mumbai: AIKS leaders meet CM Fadnavis, say 'have got assurance'

As thousands of farmers continued their lsquolong marchrsquo towards Mumbai the All India Kisan Sabha AIKS on Tuesday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given concrete assurances on several key demands reported the PTIThe marchers crossed into neighbouring Thane district after covering nearly 60 km over the past two days The protest was launched after talks with the administration in Nashik failed to yield firm commitmentsA delegation of AIKS affiliated with the Communist Party of India Marxist met Chief Minister Fadnavis at his official residence Varsha in MumbaiEarlier in the day the delegation held a nearly twohour meeting at Mantralaya with Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike School Education Minister Dadasaheb Bhuse Forest Minister Ganesh Naik the chief secretary and senior officialsThe state government had not issued an official statement on the meetings till late eveningAIKS leader Nivrutti Nawale said the government agreed to reexamine all forest rights claims at the district level He said errors had occurred due to incorrect reports submitted by the forest departmentDistrictlevel committees headed by subdivisional officers will be formed to review every case and the exercise will be completed within three months An implementation committee including ministers will also be set up to speed up the processCrop inspections on forest land will be conducted so that cultivators can access government schemes Nawale saidAssurances on crop procurement and bonusesThe government also agreed to procure paddy and tribal crops such as varai nagli and sawa along with strawberries and baal hirda from cultivators on forest land at fair pricesThe paddy bonus will be extended to these farmers and ecrop inspection will be carried out to ensure they receive all eligible benefitsFollowing the meeting CPI M posted the pictures of the talks on X and wrote The meeting between the Long March delegation comprising CPI MKisan Sabha leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis concluded The final decision regarding the protest will be made tonight after discussions with the protestersThe meeting between the Long March delegation comprising CPIM and KisanSabha leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has concluded The final decision regarding the protest will be made tonight after discussions with the protesters pictwittercomuTjqTsm1Bgmdash CPI M cpimspeak January 27 2026Temple lands and water managementOn temple lands Nawale said the government has begun drafting a law to transfer ownership to cultivators A draft has been shared with AIKS and a meeting chaired by the revenue minister will be held within eight days to address shortcomingsThe government also accepted the demand to retain rainwater from seven westflowing rivers in tribal areas for local use and droughtprone regions A plan to build a chain of check dams will be prepared at the Nashik district collector levelPESA jobs power supply and workersrsquo payThe government agreed to implement court orders allowing recruitment of up to 50 per cent of sanctioned posts under the PESA ActOn electricity supply information will be collected on districts where farmers receive power at night and a decision will be taken on shifting them to daytime supplyA decision to increase the honorarium of school nutrition meal workers will also be taken immediately Nawale saidEducation and Infrastructure PromisesSchool Education Minister Dadasaheb Bhuse assured action to repair school buildings in remote tribal areas and recruit teachers wherever requiredThe AIKS also urged the government to retain the NashikndashPune highspeed rail alignment via Akole The chief minister assured that technical issues linked to any route change would be reviewedDecision on protest awaitedA final decision on withdrawing the agitation will be taken after consultations with AIKS state leaders and protesters gathered at Khardi in Thane districtMinisters Girish Mahajan and the Nashik district collector are expected to address the protesters on Wednesday evening after which the decision will be announcedThe march began on Sunday after an agitation outside the Dindori tehsil office in Nashik district failed to secure assurances Protesters carrying red flags started marching on foot to Mumbai and descended through the Kasara Ghat on Tuesday morning the news agency reportedwith PTI inputs