Mumbai – Former MP and Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) President Adv. Prakash Ambedkar has penned a detailed letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, urging him to take immediate action on the longstanding demands of the state’s Nomadic-Tribal and Adivasi communities. The letter highlights critical issues faced by these marginalized communities and calls for urgent governmental intervention to ensure their basic rights and upliftment.

Ambedkar's letter outlines a comprehensive 17-point demand charter aimed at addressing key challenges faced by the Nomadic-Tribal and Adivasi groups, who continue to grapple with poverty, lack of citizenship proof, and inadequate access to food, shelter, and education. Among the most pressing demands is the call for a caste-wise census of these communities to better understand their needs and ensure appropriate policy measures are implemented.

Ambedkar has proposed the establishment of a dedicated ministry for Nomadic and Denotified Tribes, with the leadership of a minister from within these communities. Additionally, he stressed the importance of setting up 'Vanarti' (Vasantrao Naik Research and Training Institute), an autonomous body modeled after BARTI, SARTHI, and MAHANAYOTI, to conduct research and provide training to Nomadic-Tribal communities, thereby equipping them with resources for sustainable development.

The letter further demands the regularization of land encroachments on grazing lands, village sites, forest areas, and other residential and livelihood lands used by these communities. Ambedkar has also called for the issuance of government-recognized licenses and identification cards for practitioners of traditional arts, many of whom lack formal recognition, making it difficult for them to sustain their livelihoods.

Another major issue raised by Ambedkar is the ongoing struggle of these communities to obtain citizenship documents. He proposed the creation of a one-window system to streamline the process of obtaining essential identification papers, which would alleviate one of their most critical hurdles.

In the educational sphere, Ambedkar demanded free and accessible schooling from pre-primary to postgraduate levels for children from Nomadic and Adivasi backgrounds, along with the establishment of separate hostels to support their learning journey.

Referring to a central government committee chaired by Ashok Agrawal, Ambedkar emphasized the need to implement its recommendations, which address the challenges faced by 14 Denotified Tribes and 28 Nomadic Tribes. The VBA leader also called for regular camps or gatherings every two months to resolve citizenship proof issues for the Nomadic-Tribal and Adivasi communities.

Ambedkar’s letter comes at a pivotal time, as these communities have been engaged in the "Samvad Yatra," a protest march that commenced on August 28th, 2024, from the memorial of Krantisurya Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in Pune. The yatra, which aims to highlight the plight of these communities, will conclude in Mumbai on September 23rd. The march has witnessed widespread participation from Nomadic-Tribal and Adivasi citizens across the state, all rallying behind their demands for dignity and justice.

Speaking on the matter, Ambedkar expressed deep concern over the continued neglect of these communities and called on the Maharashtra government to respond with compassion and urgency.

“The Nomadic and Adivasi communities have been denied their basic human rights for far too long. The government must act swiftly to address these legitimate and just demands,” he stated.