Kherpura is a small village 35 kilometres from Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh and feels like stepping back in time. Only 60-70 Adivasi families live here. While people in cities talk about high-speed internet, big malls, metros and flyovers, the reality of Kherpura is very different with limited paved roads, after which it is just a rough, uneven dirt track.

Despite these limitations, Kherpura residents worry more about their right and access to land. In 2001–2002, the Madhya Pradesh government announced the distribution of pieces of land to landless Dalit and Adivasi families to cultivate food, build homes and maintain sustainable livelihoods for their families. On paper, Kherpura’s families were included, but the land was never identified, demarcated, or handed over.

For the past two decades, the Sahariyas of Kherpura have been making endless rounds to government offices for the enforcement of their rights. Countless applications were submitted, followed by multiple appeals made to patwaris (state employee in charge of maintaining revenue records). Yet, each time, the only result was disappointment. Gradually, hope began to fade away.

In spring 2025, Zenith’s team organised a chaupal (community meeting) in Kherpura as a part of their community outreach. When they spoke to the villagers, numerous problems came to light. Residents bemoaned the lack of basic facilities such as roads, water, understaffed schools and anganwadis (rural childcare centres). However, the greatest pain was not knowing and having the possession of their own land.

Kherpura’s residents engage with Arvind Kumar from Zenith’s team at a service camp

Narayan Adivasi, a young man, mentioned that

“daily-wage labour and farming are the only livelihoods most people see before them. Women have the same options, in addition to household work. Schools exist only up to the 5th standard, after which children join their families in working.”

Parimal Adivasi, an eighteen year old, shares that he farms mustard with his family on their land. But given that it is seasonal, they look for labour work, including on other people’s farms at other times. He also noted that the schools were understaffed and that teachers and staff do not always attend as expected.

Given that land rights was the most pressing concern articulated by the community, Zenith decided to support their efforts and followed up with a service camp. Applications were prepared for the demarcation of land belonging to 22 Adivasi families, documents were collected, and KYC procedures were completed. Following this, in May, the cases of 15 families were formally filed at the relevant Revenue Court. So far, the land of 4 families has been demarcated.

This court order has rekindled hope in the others. The spirit that had broken after years of futile visits to government offices began to return. The process did not just demarcate the land allocations, but it brought back to reality the rights that had been lost in papers for so many years.

The remaining Adivasi families are reinvigorated, organised, and standing strong inspired by this momentum. Section 129 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code addresses demarcations and the procedures to be followed. This provision has revived the hopes of many families showing them there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Kherpura’s story mirrors that of countless communities where people struggle with rights they cannot enforce, land they cannot access, and dreams hindered by the lack of basic facilities.

Even when this struggle for possession ends, Kherpura’s fight for a school, an anganwadi, drinking water, and a proper road will remain. But securing access to their land will give them the strength to fight for the rest. With the support of its network, Zenith will continue to stand with them, paving the road to a better future, one step at a time.

Arvind Kumar from Zenith helping people at a service camp