Until recently, the Katkari gaothan problem was largely invisible to activist and development organizations working in Maharashtra, including ourselves. In the absence of pressure from the Katkari themselves, government officials also neglected the issue. Interviews by the research team with the gram sevak and other local government officials indicated that when the inquiry started, they were largely unaware of the scope and impact of the gaothan problem on the Katkari. Nor had they thought about the emerging risk of widespread evictions in the rapidly changing economic context and real-estate frenzy. Officials were unacquainted with the history of the previous gaothan extension schemes, and unclear about the bureaucratic procedures and relevant laws, regulations and policies. Their failure to implement policies from the past was not evident to them. Nor was it of any real concern or priority. The Katkari had exerted no demands on officials, so the problem was out of sight and out of mind.

Following the challenges by landholders to the local gram sabha process, the research team and the Katkari resolved to engage with government actors at the taluka level and higher, not only to pressurize them to act but also to provide them with relevant information and analysis showing the scope of the problem, the legal basis for resolution and the moral and ethical obligation to act.