Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda raised concerns about pending tribal land claims, farmers’ challenges, education and healthcare gaps, and alleged exploitation of tribal communities during the ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ in south Gujarat. At the Narmada Sugar Factory, Chavda highlighted the financial struggles faced by farmers, advocating for fair compensation to ensure the economic viability of farming. He criticized the state government for delays in resolving tribal land claims despite the Forest Rights Act being in place for nearly two decades.
Under Section 73AA of the Gujarat Land Revenue Act, Chavda emphasized the need to protect tribal lands from unauthorized use. He expressed alarm over an alleged scam involving the conversion of tribal lands to non-agricultural status through fraudulent means. Chavda also pointed out the lack of employment opportunities for local tribals in major projects like the Statue of Unity, alleging that contracts were awarded to BJP associates instead of benefiting the tribal community.
Additionally, Chavda accused the government of disregarding provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and Schedule V protections, claiming that tribal resources are being acquired without proper consent. He highlighted challenges in education, citing issues such as long distances to schools, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of basic facilities hindering quality education in tribal areas. Dr. Tushar Chaudhary, Gujarat Legislative Assembly Congress leader, addressed healthcare issues, noting the absence of local medical facilities that forces patients to seek treatment in other districts, leading to financial burdens for poor families.
Chavda stressed the importance of addressing delays and improving policy implementation in tribal areas to ensure communities’ access to land, resources, education, and livelihoods.
