Banjara representatives from across India convened in Delhi for the national poster launch, pressing the government to resolve historical land claims, safeguard heritage, and ensure socio-economic development.
New Delhi, 29 November 2025
The “Hello Banjara – Chalo Delhi / Delhi Aao Banjara – Bajao Nangara” campaign was officially launched in New Delhi today with a national poster unveiling ceremony. Spearheaded by Banjara Bharat and the newly formed Akhil Bharatiya Banjara Maha Seva Sangh, the event brought together community leaders and representatives from across India to spotlight long-standing socio-economic and cultural challenges faced by the Banjara community.
Addressing the gathering, former MP and Chairman of Banjara Bharat, Ravindra Naik, highlighted that even after more than seven decades of independence, many Banjara Tandas, Naglas, and Deras in nearly twenty states continue to lack essential amenities, including safe drinking water, proper roads, electricity, healthcare, and educational facilities.
Despite sharing a common cultural and linguistic heritage, the Banjara community remains socio-politically marginalised as it is classified differently across states under SC, ST, OBC, and VJNT categories. With a significant presence spanning nearly 200 parliamentary and 1,000 assembly constituencies, the community’s developmental needs remain largely unmet.
The event also paid tribute to Lakki Shah Banjara, whose Tanda historically spanned 350 acres in what is now Raisina Hills, home to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, and other key national institutions. Organisers reiterated the demand for settlement of the remaining land compensation, noting that only a portion had been allotted previously.
Community leaders urged the government to protect and preserve Banjara-associated heritage sites and lands, including Lohagarh (Haryana), Mangarh (Rajasthan), Lakhi Sarai (Bihar), Mathura–Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh), Sagar Lakki Shah Lake (Madhya Pradesh), Banjara Hills and Golconda Gate (Telangana), Baba Hathiram Math (Tirupati), and Kadambur Hills (Tamil Nadu).
The campaign’s charter of demands calls for the inclusion of Banjara/Gor Boli in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, following Telangana Assembly’s resolution. It also seeks uniform national recognition of all sixteen Banjara sub-groups, ensuring equality in constitutional status across states under the principle of “One Nation, One Banjara.”
Other key proposals include establishing a National Banjara Tanda–Nagla–Dera Development Board to provide essential services nationwide, a National Banjara Museum and National Banjara University in Delhi and Hyderabad to promote research and education, and providing official identity cards and protection for itinerant Banjara youth engaged in small trades.
Given low literacy levels among Banjara women, the community also demanded Banjara Women’s Residential Schools in 200 district headquarters. Additional requests included naming prominent NCR roads after Banjara icons, forming a National Banjara Research and Development Commission, installing statues of Lakki Shah Banjara and Makkan Shah Lubana in the Parliament complex, naming a national train “Banjara Bharat Rail,” and establishing a Banjara Regiment to honour the community’s martial heritage.
The event concluded with a strong message of unity and collective mobilisation, as organisers appealed to the central government to urgently address these unresolved historical, cultural, and developmental concerns.
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