As the work of Gram Swaraj Samiti intensified, differences between Sarvodaya and other activists surfaced. While the former viewed the problems of the tribals as having been created by certain oppressive individuals, Marxist-influenced activists visualized the tribals' struggle as part of a larger, class-based struggle. These activists, such as, Dinanath Manohar, Kumar Shiralkar and Vijay Kanhere, launched the Shramik Sanghatana (Toilers' Union) in 1972. However, due to Suratwanti's influence, they continued to work under a broader banner. Suratwanti's death in 1974 coupled with the fact that Sarvodaya workers favored a Janata candidate (of the landlord class) during the 1977 elections resulted in the move of the tribals towards the Shramik Sanghatana, which now emerged as an effective indigenous movement of tribals assisted only by a few-time activists from outside. The Samiti did not survive long and since the Samiti and Sanghatana worked together between 1972-77, their work is indistinguishable.
In Shrikhed village the land of a tribal, Devaji, was usurped by the Patel. To free his land, a case was filed at the thana and it was declared that the Samiti would harvest the crop. However, when the Samiti attempted to do so, the watchmen resisted, and thus the police intervened. The land became disputed and was returned to Devaji two years later. In a similar fashion about 3500 acres of land was freed during 1972 and 1973.
To increase wages and improve working conditions, the Samiti organized the saldars and khet majdoors (farm laborers) in a strike in Raikhed village. The gujar maldars called the police and downed shutters, but the tribals persisted and gheraoed the maldars. After this strik, a principle of collective bargaining was established whereby a group of saldars negotiated with a committee of maldars. A similar strike took place in about seventy villages, creating a climate of confidence. Shramik Sanghatana was able to equalize the daily wages of men and women, and to raise both saldar and rojdar wages. For saldars, wages up from Rs. 2,000 in 1982. To organize effective strikes, it was found that involvement of non-adivasi laborers was important so that maldars could not hire them instead. With laborers and farmers joining hands, it appeared at that time that this struggle for wages had changed the nature of the movement, from a caste (tribal) to a class (labor) one. Shramik Sanghatana also fought, and offered satyagrah, for the regularization of forest land. It established tarun mandals (youth groups) in each village. Tribal women also organized themselves under 'Stri Sanghatana' and fought against alcoholism, rape, and the atrocities of the police. They led morchas (marches), and used dharnas (sit-ins) and gheraos (besieging) as forms of protest to influence government officials.
Since it stressed on democratic struggle and participation of tribals, the Sanghatana was welcomed by the tribals and was successful to a certain extent. However, dissent persisted among its activists, about the need for, and selection of, outside political affiliation. One section of Shramik Sanghatana was undecided about an outside link and formed a separate organization—Shramik Mukti Dal, while others felt it necessary to align with national forces, and, as a part of its trade union CITU, accepted CPI(M) affiliation. The organization as a whole was opposed to receiving foreign funds. Activists were supported mainly by voluntary contributions of friends and supporters in India. The organizational split weakened the group to such an extent that the office remained locked between 1984 and 1988. Recently, it started functioning again.
Suratwanti was a dedicated local leader, and after his departure, there remained a vacuum in indigenous leadership. Although atrocities on adivasis, such as punishment by electric shock, beatings and rapes, were considerably reduced, and about 10,000 tribals benefited in terms of land and wages, it appeared that the period from 1964-74 (under Suratwanti's influence) had been the high point of the Samiti or Sanghatana. After 1974, there remained a vacuum in indigenous leadership. Although atrocities on adivasis, such as punishment by electric shock, beatings and rapes, were considerably reduced, and about 10,000 tribals benefited in terms of land and wages, it appeared that the period from 1964-74 (under Suratwanti's influence) had been the high point of the Samiti or Sanghatana. After 1974, there was a crisis in leadership and an ideological split between Marxist and local leaders. Gram Swaraj Samiti and the Sanghatana pitted against each other and, as a consequence, both became weak. There were also three ideological stands among the activists of the Sanghatana: independent, socialist and CPI(M). Finally, Kumar Shiralkar joined the Marxist party, Ashok went to Lal Nishan party, Dinanath separated and shifted to Nandurbar, and Vijay, to Bombay. Many fact