Maharashtra farmers agitation: Lok Sangarsh Morcha calls off protest as Fadnavis assures to meet demands

A delegation of over 10,000 protesting tribals and farmers on Thursday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Mumbai, where the winter session of the state legislature kick-started on November 19. Agitating farmers led by the Lok Sangharsh Morcha, started their march from Mulund Octroi Naka this morning and refused to leave Azad Maidan until or unless the state government addresses their concerns. The demands include the implementation of Swaminathan Committee Report, pending claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), minimum support price and setting up of a judicial system to ensure its implementation, complete farm loan waiver and drought compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for non-irrigated land and Rs 1 lakh per acre for irrigated land and other issues.

Fadnavis, however, addressed the representative of the protesting farmers, assuring that their forest land rights claims will be settled by December 2018. Tribal welfare minister Vishnu Savra said 3.6 lakh claims were received, of which 1.74 lakh have been settled in favour of the tribals. Similarly, 12,000 claims for community forest activity were also received, of which 7,700 have been settled, Savra added.

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