Mumbai's Indigenous Communities to rally for rights and recognition

In a powerful display of unity the indigenous communities of Mumbai including the Agri Koli East Indian Bhandari Kunbi and other Bhumiputra Samaj are set to come together for the Mumbai Bhumiputra Rally 2024 The rally under the banner Aapla Gaav Aapla Raaj Our Village Our Rule will take place on Sunday July 21The Mumbai East Indian community has been organizing these rallies each year under the Mobai Gaothan Panchayat MGP previously known as the East Indian Rally However starting this year the community has rebranded the event as the Mumbai Bhumiputra RallyThe upcoming Mumbai Bhumiputra Rally 2024 will see the citys indigenous communities including the East Indians Agri Koli Bhandari Kunbi and others coming together to voice their collective demands and issuesThe rally will push for a special housing policy dedicated to indigenous people and the allocation of land for cultural Bhavans in each city within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR It also calls for tailored development policies for local villages the establishment of zones to promote native food and art and official recognition of East Indian Agri and Koli dialects The promotion of indigenous culture and traditions on all platforms representation across authorities restoration and recognition of heritage structures and a special policy to provide benefits and privileges to the Agri Koli and East Indian communities as Bhumiputras are also key demands Additionally the rally seeks the immediate closure of the Uttan Dumping Ground due to its adverse effects on the health and environment of Uttan VillageWe have appealed to community members to join us in raising our voices and advocating for the rights and recognition of Mumbais indigenous communities We strongly believe that together we can make a significant impact said Gleason Barretto of Mobai Gaothan Panchayat MGPBarretto added Mumbai Bhumiputra Rally is being held to raise the issues faced by the Indigenous People of Mumbai Koli Aagri and East Indian Community We demand the implementation of the Mumbai Bhumiputra Policy which will focus on Mumbais Indigenous People rightsBarretto and his core team members of MGP in 2022 drafted a Mumbai Bhumipurtra Policy demanding rights for the indigenous people As per Barretto the community will be making significant changes in the policy and tweek it to include demands of the Agri and Koli samaj and other indigenous communities Bhumiputra of MumbaiIssues and demands of the communitiesHousing Benefits Advocacy for a special housing policy dedicated to indigenous peopleEast Indian Agri amp Koli Bhavan Allocation of land for a cultural Bhavan in each city within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMRSpecial Gaothan Koliwada amp Agarwada Development Policy Development policies tailored to the needs of local villagersFood amp Art Stalls Establishment of special zones to promote native food and artLanguage Recognition Official recognition and promotion of East Indian Agri and Koli dialectsCulture amp Tradition Promotion of indigenous culture and traditions on all platformsRepresentation Ensuring community members have representation across all authoritiesHeritage Restoration and recognition of heritage structures that have stood for centuriesIndigenous People Rights Special drafted policy to provide benefits and privileges to the Agri Koli and East Indian communities as BhumiputrasUttan Dumping Ground Immediate closure of the dumping ground due to its adverse effects on the health and environment of Uttan VillageAssembly Point Bandra Gym main gateRoute Via St Andrews Church ChimbaiEnd Point Mot Mauli Devool Mount Mary Basilica Bandra