Vibes Of Vidarbha, Dispatch 6: In Gadchiroli And Chandrapur, Where Tribal Realities Meet Maharashtra’s Political Chaos

Gadchiroli

The first thing that comes to mind when somebody mentions Gadchiroli is its association with Maoist rebels. It is among India’s 43 left-wing extremism (LWE) affected districts. Home Minister Amit Shah has vowed to eradicate LWE by 2026. Recent CRPF efforts in neighbouring Chhattisgarh have prompted CRPF to declare northern Gadchiroli as Maoist-free.

Roads in Gadchiroli are in poor condition, even the national highway from Nagpur to Gadchiroli is in bad shape. According to my driver, the road south of Gadchiroli, leading towards Telangana, is even worse. Improving infrastructure and security will feed off each other and will hopefully have positive ripple effects on development in this mineral-rich area.

Here, I met Ashish, Suraj, Anu and Tanu who are preparing for civil service exams. They were very hesitant to talk to me because I did not have an ID. With all the security risks, I understand their anxiety. Maoists are still present in the district, but very less in the town. But I still manage to charm them into a conversation on development.

The youngsters lament the inadequate health facilities and poorly maintained roads. Education infrastructure is also lacking. There are plans to develop a large medical college and hospital, which has generated excitement among the group.

Many of their friends dream of leaving for cities like Pune and Bangalore to escape the bleak local job market, but very few manage to get out and make a career in the IT sector.

“We want to serve in the police, but the path is unclear,” said one of the young aspirants. This is a tribal district, and most of the recruitment happens locally. The girls are not getting the benefits of the Ladki Bahin because they are not 21 yet, but their relatives have started receiving the benefits. The cash transfer programs are popular here.

General security and in particular women’s safety is an issue here. The absence of skill-building programs specifically for young women remains a significant gap. The adolescent health facilities are adequate. The girls are happy about the fact that both parties are giving importance to women.

Suraj says that the region lacks a dedicated political champion, unlike Brahmapuri’s Wadettiwar. He seems resigned to the reality that development often hinges more on political will than on public need.

They are first-time voters but feel detached from the region’s political climate, disillusioned by Maharashtra’s habit of party-swapping. “Here, the candidate matters more than the party,” one of them confided, explaining their inclination to vote based on character and local reputation over party allegiance. A clever way of avoiding the answer!

This ST-majority constituency (about 40 per cent tribal population) also has a significant Dalit population (12 per cent). 25 per cent speak Gondi. The major community of tribals who reside in the district are Gond and Madia, they perform worship of their God “Persa Pen” and others. Hindu festivals of Holi, Diwali and Dussehra are celebrated by the tribals. The tribal communities’ families reside in the dense forests of the district, visiting urban centres only for weekly shopping for essentials.

In Maharashtra, each Lok Sabha constituency includes approximately six Vidhan Sabha constituencies. Of the six in Gadchiroli, four are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). In the recent parliamentary elections, Congress candidate Namdeo Kirsan won against Ashok Nete, a prominent BJP leader and MP from 2014 to 2024.

Deorao Holi of BJP won the assembly elections in both 2014 and 2019. However, he has faced allegations of a scam in the "Make in Gadchiroli" initiative and has often been involved in controversies due to his statements. Hence, the BJP has replaced him with Dr Milind Narote, a medical doctor. Dr Narote is known for his social work in the area and is also seen as a trusted face of the RSS.

Holi had filed his nomination to fight as a rebel candidate. But, as a conciliatory move, he withdrew his nomination at the last moment, easing the path for Narote.

Ameri and Aheri are two other constituencies in this Maoist-affected tribal district. On the last day for withdrawal, 11 candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving 29 candidates across three constituencies. The dynamics are complex to figure out.

Chandrapur City

As we enter Chandrapur, one can notice smoke billowing smoke out of giant chimneys from afar. Chandrapur's thermal power station is one of the largest in India. The district has large reserves of coal and manganese. Iron ore and limestone have also been identified as potential mining resources. Chandrapur district contributes about one-third of Maharashtra’s mineral output.

Known as the “City of Black Gold” due to its coal mines and power plants, Chandrapur is a mix of industry and natural beauty, boasting wildlife sanctuaries. The "cats" in the sanctuary nearby are a big draw for wildlife enthusiasts.

Yet, like much of Maharashtra, Chandrapur grapples with unemployment and underemployment. Despite the economic engine provided by coal, there is little industrial diversification, leaving locals to look for opportunities outside the district.

In the tribal heartland, Ravi Adivasi shared his nuanced view of the status of Scheduled Tribes in India. He is from the Gond community but uses "Adivasi" as his last name as a way to assert a larger tribal identity. He describes his community as part of India’s cultural fabric, deeply rooted in spiritual traditions. He personally feels that his community has originated from the blessings of Bholenath, but is distinct in many ways from mainstream Hinduism. The social versus spiritual dichotomy!

He said, "We are not even in the four varnas. We tribals do not fall neatly within the Hindu framework. In fact, we don't even have Gods. We worship smaller gods, place, nature, or spiritual gurus.” he explained. Ravi empathises with the Santhals in Jharkhand, pushing for recognition of the Sarna religion, a separate identity that aligns with their indigenous beliefs.

Ravi voiced concerns about Christian conversions, often driven by the economic perks offered, such as reduced school fees — a significant incentive for impoverished families. Nonetheless, he applauded the government’s focus on education.

He is pleased to see that the “Jai Johar” slogan of the Scheduled Tribes is gaining attention in mainstream media alongside “Jai Bhim.”  The "bow and arrow" has become a unifying symbol for vanvasis across India. Local icons are added to the symbol, such as Birsa Munda in Jharkhand. He explains how certain tribal groups have become OBCs through conversions, marriage and patronage.

Every political party offers money and drinks and promises to do whatever it takes to win elections. He observes that tribal leaders who emerge are typically those who can get small tasks done and provide protection. "Educated leaders rarely come from tribal communities through a democratic process," he laments.

Ravi also touched on the rampant issue of alcoholism within his community, viewing skill-building as a path to liberation for tribal youth. He sees family support — both psychological and financial — as crucial for young entrepreneurs, suggesting that government incentives and low-cost loans for family-run businesses among tribals would help. A point to ponder for policymakers.

Epilogue

There are hardly any industries at present, but with improved security and a possible mining boom, Gadchiroli could become an industrial centre of the future, perhaps like what shale gas did to North Dakota in the US.

As a preview, in Surajgarh, Ispat Ltd has invested Rs 10,000 crores to start a steel plant. Tata Steel also has a presence here. Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited recently approached the government to increase its iron ore production from 10 MT to 25 MT.

Maharashtra has a tradition of appointing "guardian ministers" to districts. The current Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, was the guardian minister of Gadchiroli in the Uddhav Thackeray government. Shinde has alleged that Thackery did not provide him adequate security due to ego issues, but he had still managed to visit the district multiple times.

In the conversations with locals on politics, I observe a lack of strong enthusiasm — no great desperation or real passion. The disloyalty among candidates and parties is off-putting, and it seems that the outcome may ultimately hinge on the fundamentals of election management.

Earlier dispatches in the 'Vibes of Vidarbha' series:

A Primer On The Region That Could Swing The Maharashtra Election

Regional Dynamics, Key Players, And The Battle For Political Power

Exploring The Strides Made And Hurdles That Remain In Nagpur

Voices From The Deep Maoist Strongholds Of Gondia

 The Strongman Politics Of Eastern Vidarbha