Ahmedabad, Feb 11 (NationPress) The President of Gujarat Congress, Amit Chavda, raised critical issues concerning unresolved tribal land claims, farmer grievances, educational deficiencies, and healthcare inadequacies during the 10th day of the 'Jan Aakrosh Yatra' in southern Gujarat.

While addressing the challenges faced by farmers at the Narmada Sugar Factory, Chavda stated: “With escalating costs of cultivation, soaring prices for fertilizers and seeds, along with surging labor expenses, farmers need to receive Rs 5,000 per tonne for sugarcane. Without this support, farming will become unfeasible.”

Chavda strongly criticized the state government for its inaction on tribal land claims. “Even after nearly 20 years of the Forest Rights Act, thousands of tribal families are still waiting for their claims to be resolved. Despite obtaining approvals from gram sabhas and having cultivation records, bureaucratic delays and technical issues persist,” he explained.

He pointed out that according to Section 73AA of the Gujarat Land Revenue Act, tribal lands should be safeguarded against transfer and misuse.

“Nevertheless, a significant scam is underway where these lands are being illegitimately converted to non-agricultural (NA) status and seized, often involving fraudulent documentation,” he alleged.

Chavda also expressed his concerns regarding job opportunities in prominent projects such as the Statue of Unity (SOU). “The local tribal community was excluded from employment on this project. Instead, contracts were reportedly awarded to associates of the BJP, depriving the community of their legitimate employment rights,” he said.

He further condemned the government for neglecting the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and Schedule V protections, claiming that tribal water, land, and forests are being acquired under the guise of development without necessary gram sabha approvals.

Addressing educational challenges, Chavda remarked: “Long distances to schools, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of basic facilities are obstructing access to quality education for students in tribal regions. Consequently, dropout rates have escalated dramatically.”

Congress Legislative Assembly leader, Dr. Tushar Chaudhary, raised healthcare issues, stating: “The absence of hospitals and primary health centers forces patients to travel to distant districts for treatment. This adds financial strain on poor families, and minor ailments can escalate into life-threatening conditions due to the lack of local facilities.”

Chavda stressed that ongoing delays and what he termed as poor implementation of policies in tribal areas are stripping communities of their rightful access to land, resources, education, and livelihoods.