Rakhandars walk Konkan to defend land and livelihoods
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Since June, a group of farmers, environmentalists, and entrepreneurs calling themselves ‘Rakhandars’ have walked from village to village in the Konkan region of India to address local environmental and social issues.
The Rakhandar Yatra began at the Mauli temple in Kankumbi village on the Goa-Karnataka border, a site of protest against a proposed river diversion project.
The group travels through villages for four to five days each month, meeting with residents and fishing communities to discuss threats to their land, water, and traditional ways of life. The Rakhandars draw inspiration from Vetoba, a regional guardian deity, to connect cultural traditions with modern environmental concerns. They focus on issues like mining, unplanned development, and large-scale projects, including a proposed nuclear power plant and chemical refinery, that threaten the Konkan’s landscape.
In each village, the group starts by praying to the local gramdaivat, or village deity, before beginning discussions. Beyond opposing these projects, the Rakhandars also promote sustainable livelihoods and the preservation of Konkan culture. Prasad Gawde, a member of the group, uses his popular YouTube channel to highlight the region’s natural beauty and organic food. The Rakhandars believe their work encourages local people to protect their communities and become guardians of the land, much like the Vetoba of Konkan folklore.
