Thousands of women farmers marched into Mumbai alongside their male peers on Monday demanding the government recognizes their rights over forests and stops the takeover of land for industrial projects.
The protesters, who over several days walked 180 km (112 miles) from the town of Nashik, northeast of Mumbai, also demanded waivers of farm loans, and higher prices for cereals and vegetables.
Among the more than 30,000 protesters, many wearing red caps and waving communist party flags, were groups of women farmers. Many till land they do not own, often because their husbands have migrated to the cities for jobs or committed suicide.