Generations-old homes of 20 tribal families demolished by JCB in Maharoli

Twenty tribal families have been rendered homeless in Maharoli village of Alibag taluka in Maharashtra's Raigad district. According to a report by BBC Gujarati, on 24 March 2024, the generations-old homes of these tribals, residing on land under survey number 148/1, were suddenly demolished by a JCB bulldozer. This incident has left the entire tribal community on the streets overnight.

The land of the Maharoli tribal settlement at the center of this incident is survey number 148/1. Affected families, including 40-year-old Sumati Naik, claim they have been residing on this land for generations. According to the victims, a JCB machine was brought into their settlement on 24 March 2024, without any prior notice, and their houses were demolished. Sumati Naik stated, "Our entire family lived there. We had been living on that land for generations. But one day suddenly, JCB bulldozers came and demolished all our houses. They made us homeless and threw us onto the streets."

Complaints have been filed with the police and revenue administration by the tribal families and the 'Sarvahara Jan Andolan'. The tribals allege that they have been cheated and their lands have been grabbed. One victim, Ganesh Naik, stated that some individuals came and took their signatures on blank papers. As they were illiterate, they could not read the papers, and subsequently, those signatures were misused to evict them.

According to government records, the current owner of this private land under survey number 148/1 is Sarojini Rahul Narvekar, who is the wife of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar. Records show that on 22 February 2024, Sarojini Narvekar purchased this land from Baldevsinh Jhala. Approximately one month after this purchase, on 24 March 2024, the demolition of the houses was carried out. According to Rukmini Waghmare, their legal houses were demolished with the assistance of an individual named Dashrath Patil.

The tribals allege that the village contractor, Dashrath Patil, has removed them from here by making false promises and using intimidation. Sumati Naik further added that Dashrath Patil told them they had nothing here. Later, they learned that the Narvekar family was taking over their space. She also complained that when they mention Narvekar's name at the police station, no one listens to them.

On the other hand, contractor Dashrath Patil claimed that he has given money to some tribals and arranged alternative housing for others on survey number 145. However, the tribals are calling this arrangement a fraud as well. They claim that the land provided to them on survey number 145 does not actually belong to the people who are settling them there.

As per a government decision dated 4 January 2017 under the Maharashtra Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, provisions have been made for the protection of homes of eligible tribal families living on private land for years. Under this provision, the homes of these tribals should be registered in the revenue account book. Some families also possess documents such as house receipts and residential certificates from 2009 to the present.

The main accused in the demolition, Dashrath Patil, and the homeowner Narvekar family have denied all allegations against them. Currently, the police are investigating the entire matter.