In 2002, 170 Dalit and Sahariya Adivasi families in Mudkheda, Shivpuri District, were given land titles under the Madhya Pradesh government's Bhopal Declaration. Yet, these families received no possession of their land, leaving them with only title papers. Most families, marginalised and resource-starved, didn’t know where their land was or its size. A decade later, digitised land records shockingly showed these lands as government-owned. The rightful owners were rendered landless again, unable to benefit from schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Two Sahariya adivasis approached Zenith Society in Shivpuri for help. Investigating their cases, the team uncovered a systematic effort by a local upper caste lobby to suppress original records and continue to illegally encroach on the land. Fighting back, Zenith filed complaints with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and lobbied district authorities to correct the records. They secured proof of the 170 families' rightful ownership and had many titles restored.

While Zenith has ensured legal acknowledgement of ownership, possession of the land remains elusive, as entrenched encroachers delay justice. The people of Mudkheda continue their painstaking work to ensure the title holders not only reclaim their rightful land but also their dignity. Zenith Society’s efforts embody the fight for systemic change, bringing hope to those long denied their rights.