27 January,2026 10:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The state government had not issued an official statement on the meetings till late evening. Pic/X
As thousands of farmers continued their âlong march' 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 PTI.
The 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 commitments.
A delegation of AIKS, affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), met Chief Minister Fadnavis at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai.
Earlier in the day, the delegation held a nearly two-hour 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 officials.
The state government had not issued an official statement on the meetings till late evening.
AIKS leader Nivrutti Nawale said the government agreed to re-examine all forest rights claims at the district level. He said errors had occurred due to incorrect reports submitted by the forest department.
District-level committees headed by sub-divisional 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 process.
Crop inspections on forest land will be conducted so that cultivators can access government schemes, Nawale said.
The 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 prices.
The paddy bonus will be extended to these farmers, and e-crop inspection will be carried out to ensure they receive all eligible benefits.
Following the meeting, CPI (M) posted the pictures of the talks on X and wrote, "The meeting between the Long March delegation comprising CPI (M),
Kisan Sabha leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis concluded. The final decision regarding the protest will be made tonight after discussions with the protesters."
On 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 shortcomings.
The government also accepted the demand to retain rainwater from seven west-flowing rivers in tribal areas for local use and drought-prone regions. A plan to build a chain of check dams will be prepared at the Nashik district collector level.
The government agreed to implement court orders allowing recruitment of up to 50 per cent of sanctioned posts under the PESA Act.
On 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 supply.
A decision to increase the honorarium of school nutrition meal workers will also be taken immediately, Nawale said.
School Education Minister Dadasaheb Bhuse assured action to repair school buildings in remote tribal areas and recruit teachers wherever required.
The AIKS also urged the government to retain the Nashik-Pune high-speed rail alignment via Akole. The chief minister assured that technical issues linked to any route change would be reviewed.
A final decision on withdrawing the agitation will be taken after consultations with AIKS state leaders and protesters gathered at Khardi in Thane district.
Ministers Girish Mahajan and the Nashik district collector are expected to address the protesters on Wednesday evening, after which the decision will be announced.
The 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 reported.
(with PTI inputs)
