To highlight the plight of the Katkari Tribe, the Shramjeevi Organisation will hold a two-day protest featuring silent fasts and symbolic lamps, demanding land rights, unpaid wages, and dignity for the marginalised community.

About Katkari Tribe
The Katkari tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) primarily found in the state of Maharashtra and some parts of Gujarat, India. 

Key Information

• Alternate Names: They are also known as "Kathodis," a name derived from their historical occupation of making and bartering katha (catechu), a thickened sap extracted from the wood of the Khair (Acacia catechu) tree.
• Location and Population: The majority of the population (around 235,022 as per the 2011 census data) is concentrated in the Raigad and Thane districts of Maharashtra. A smaller population resides in parts of Gujarat.
• Lifestyle and Occupations: Historically, the Katkari were forest dwellers with a semi-nomadic lifestyle, relying on hunting, fishing, and gathering forest products like firewood and honey. Due to colonial forest laws and modern restrictions, their traditional way of life has been disrupted. Many now work as agricultural or bonded laborers in brick kilns and on plantations, often living in temporary huts made of bamboo and other found materials.
• Culture and Traditions: They have a patriarchal system but tend to live in nuclear rather than joint families. They speak the Katkari language, a dialect of Marathi-Konkani, among themselves, and Marathi with non-tribals. They are notable as one of the few tribal communities in India that traditionally consumed rodents, believing it contributed to their strength and long life.
• Vulnerability: The Katkari face significant challenges including poverty, debt, lack of access to basic facilities (water, housing, healthcare, education), and social exclusion. Their historical listing under the British Raj's Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 also contributed to an enduring stigma. 

Current Status
The Katkari community faces ongoing marginalization and economic insecurity. Government schemes and non-governmental organizations are working to advocate for their rights and improve their socio-economic status through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, which aims to improve tribal income through value addition of forest products. 

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