LONAWALA DECLARATION

(BM Partnership—Bahujan Hitay Sangha & MRAAKA)

A historic 2-day workshop was organized at Lonawala with the initiative of Mr. Haji Jatkar, Ex Joint Commissioner, Sales Tax, Mumbai on 25th and 26th April, 2026. 54 Representatives of Bahujan Hitay Sangha and MRAAKA (Maharashtra Rajya Alpasankhyak Adhikari and Karmachari Association) as well as a few entrepreneurs, businessmen, social leaders participated actively in the said workshop.

Among those present:

Ratnakar Gaikwad (Ex Chief Secretary, Govt of Maharashtra), Mr. Haji Jatkar, Mr. Iftekar Inamdar, Dr. Sadiq Patel, Haji Jatkar, Yasin Mapara, Syed Ali, Masiuddin Syed, Syed Shahid, K.D. Kamble, M.T. Kamble, Nagesh Lamture, Dr. Ashish Tambe, Nagsen Sonare, Sanket Borkar, Anil Dhale, Utkarsha Vanjare, Vidya Sawakhande, Anjali Gaikwad, Vijay Ranpise, Prafulla Bansode, Ramchandra Jadhav, Nilesh Mainkar, Hiraman Gaikwad etc.

Primary Focus Areas

It was decided to primarily focus on following areas initially:

To set up Multi State Coop Credit Society with HQ in Mumbai.
Skill development.
Cluster development approach for rural employment.
SHGs—Dalit and Muslim women come together and form SHGs. Our Patsanstha should support these.
Preparation for Competitive exams.
Azam Campus—Kg to PG approach.
Cadre Development.

Timeline: Out of above 7 crucial areas, to start with, it was decided to focus on the following during next one year: Setting up of Multi State Patsanstha, Formation of SHGs, Development of industrial clusters in rural areas and Cadre development.

Philosophical Foundation: VAJJI Principles

Background material was circulated on Vajji principles from the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta, where Gautama Buddha explains the seven Aparihāniya Dhamma (conditions of non-decline):

1. Frequent assemblies

Pāli: “Yāvakīvañca, Ānanda, Vajjī sannipātā bahulā bhavissanti…”
Marathi: वज्जी लोक वारंवार मोठ्या संख्येने एकत्र येतात.
Result: Growth, not decline.

2. Unity in meetings

Pāli: “Yāvakīvañca, Ānanda, Vajjī samaggā sannipatissanti…”
Marathi: ते एकमताने सभा घेतात, काम करतात आणि निघतात.
Result: Growth, not decline.

3. Respect for laws & traditions

Pāli: “Appaññattaṃ na paññapessanti…”
Marathi: ते मनमानी नियम बनवत नाहीत व जुने नियम मोडत नाहीत.
Result: Growth, not decline.

4. Respect for elders

Pāli: “Ye te mahallakā… sakkarissanti…”
Marathi: ते वयोवृद्धांचा सन्मान करतात व त्यांचे ऐकतात.
Result: Growth, not decline.

5. Protection of women

Pāli: “Itthiyo… na okkassa pasayha vāsenti…”
Marathi: ते स्त्रियांवर अन्याय करत नाहीत.
Result: Growth, not decline.

6. Respect for sacred places

Pāli: “Cetiyāni… sakkarissanti…”
Marathi: ते धार्मिक स्थळांचा आदर करतात व जपतात.
Result: Growth, not decline.

7. Protection of the righteous (Arahants)

Pāli: “Arahantesu rakkhāvaraṇaguttiṃ…”
Marathi: ते संत/अरहंत यांचे रक्षण व आदर करतात.
Result: Growth, not decline.

The 7 principles of social business given by Muhammad Yunus are foundational for inclusive development:

Business objective will be to overcome poverty or solve social problems.
Financial and economic sustainability.
Investors get back only their investment amount (No dividends).
Profits stay with the company for expansion and improvement.
Environmentally conscious.
Workforce gets fair wages and better working conditions.
Do it with joy.

Key Idea: Trust + group solidarity + small credit + discipline = empowerment of the poor.

Empowerment with Dignity

Today, when we talk about sustainable development, we must go beyond charity and think of empowerment with dignity. SHGs directly address poverty by providing small loans to women and youth for livelihood activities.

Unlike profit-driven enterprises, SHGs focus on collective growth. They ensure dignity of labour, fair participation, and mutual respect among members. The real strength of SHGs lies in transforming beneficiaries into entrepreneurs and dependence into self-reliance.

Cluster Development / Rural Industrial Estates (RIE)

The RIE Scheme of the KVIC is designed to promote rural entrepreneurship and decentralized industrialization.

Objective: To create organized industrial clusters in rural areas with shared infrastructure.
Common Infrastructure: Developed plots, work sheds, roads, power, water supply.
Employment: Creates local jobs, reduces migration to urban areas.
In one line: “Mini industrial clusters in villages” enabling jobs, skills, and entrepreneurship.

The Final Resolution

On 26th April, detailed presentations were made. It was resolved that BHS-MRAAKA partnership urgently initiate:

District Sangha (DS): Set up DS of about 25 members (equal BHS/MRAAKA split) in each district. The DS will meet every week without fail to implement the 7-point Agenda.
Priority SHGs: Form SHGs for Dalit and Muslim Women in Slum areas specifically. Training of Trainers (ToT) will be organized at Azam Campus.
Solapur Project: Industrial cluster at Sadhepur in Solapur district be developed on war footing.
Patsanstha: Registration process of Multi State Patsanstha be initiated so as to complete by 15th August, 2026.

Coordinators: Haji Jatkar, Ratnakar Gaikwad (BM Collaboration)

The Lonavala Declaration: A Historic Partnership