Janadesh, the People’s Verdict

On October 2nd 2007, 25,000 people came together to walk 350 km to Delhi from Gwalior in order to demand that the Indian Government address land issues and allow people to have full and equal access over the natural resources they depend on for their livelihoods. For three years, thousands of poor and marginalized farmers, forest-dwelling communities, landless, Dalit and tribal groups have planned and saved so that they could leave their families and, in a manner reminiscent of Gandhi, unite in a display of non-violent civil disobedience. Their actions are the result of Janadesh, or the people's verdict, and present an ultimatum to the government to resolve land-issues or face non-violent direct action by the people.

This land march, or padyatra, presented three issues to the Indian government:

1. To create a pro-poor National Land Reforms Policy

2. To resolve existing land issues in India by forming a 'National Land Reforms Commission' because 70% of India's people depend on land for their livelihood.

3. To establish Fast Track Courts across the country to handle land disputes between departments and individuals.

After a mass demonstration in Delhi on October 28th, 2007, the Government of India announced for the formation of National Land Reforms Committee and Council. 

In January 2008 the Government of India announced the formation of a National Land Reforms Committee with 50% of the new committee's members coming from social and civil society organizations involved in the land rights movement. This is the first step towards creating more equitable land reform policies, but the success of this historical display of non-violent civil disobedience has still fallen short of bringing justice to the people. People in India’s villages are still being displaced by corporate interests. Local authorities still demand hefty bribes to do the paper work necessary for families to gain legal ownership over their land. The struggle is not over and we all must be prepared to continue in this fight for justice for the people.