The organisation was founded at a convention in Bankura January 28–29, 2009. The Bankura convention elected Jatin Soren and Nishikanta Mehta as joint presidents and Biswanath Kisku and Rebati Bhattacharya as joint general secretaries, as leaders of a 39-member State Committee. The Bankura convention adopted a twenty-one point list of demands; that the Forest Dweller Act provisions on the right to water-forest-land be implemented, that tribal certificates be given to all Adivasi families, reservation of seat in the Development Committees in Adivasi villages, that landless Adivasi families be given government lands; providing ration cards for Adivasis, development of the Ol Chiki script, institution of a 500 rupee pension for poor handicapped persons, free medical centres, agricultural aid, drinking water, electricity and compulsory primary education in all Adivasi villages, stipends for forming cooperatives and self-help groups and development of cottage industries.[2]