Ground Reports
Vibes Of Vidarbha, Dispatch 4: Voices From The Deep Maoist Strongholds Of Gondia
- As Maharashtra heads for an election, Gondia’s voters are likely to prioritise local issues.
Gondia city is developing rapidly
Rajegaon, Gondia District
Rajegaon in Gondia district lies on the border with Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. The name of the district comes from the Gondi people who are the second largest tribal group in India after the Bhils. They are spread across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
The Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) tri-junction still is a strong focal point for Maoists. The security preparations for the polls have already started, with around 10,000 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel set to be involved in election activities. Convoys and drones are visible as part of the security arrangements.
The people in this area are among the poorest, living a subsistence life reliant on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) work and government-provided free rations. Large-scale migration to other parts of India, particularly the South, for work in construction and agriculture, is common. Beedi-making with tendu leaves is a prevalent cottage industry here.
The Gondwana movement and demands for a separate Vidarbha are ever-present, with locals striving to preserve their cultural identity amid political shifts. The Gondwana Ganatantra Party (GGP) has historically advocated for tribal rights.
In Rajegaon, the pace of infrastructure development driven by security needs is apparent. Roads and connectivity improvements signal changing times.
Politics and Caste Dynamics in Gondia
Less than 20 per cent of the people of the district live in urban areas. Gondia’s demographic mix includes two large Other Backward Class (OBC) communities — Powars and Lodhs. The Powars trace their lineage to Bhojraj. The other large constituents are: 16 per cent Scheduled Tribes (STs), 13 per cent Scheduled Castes (SCs), 10 per cent Buddhists. Despite these groups making up a significant portion of the population, Gondia has yet to produce strong political leaders from among them.
The region also has a large Christian missionary presence, which has created tensions. They engage with both tribal and non-tribal communities, often luring them with cash. Though the district is called Gondia, the tribal Gond population is smaller than in neighbouring Gadchiroli, where 40 per cent of the people are tribals.
The Gondis continue to engage in traditional forest-based livelihoods. Praful Patel, former Union minister, apparently runs beedi factories. Patel’s educational institutions also contribute to his influence in the district.
This area also falls under the Gondia Legislative Assembly constituency. It will be a clash of the Agarwals in this constituency. As expected, Vinod Agarwal is contesting on a BJP ticket against Gopal Das Agarwal, who is representing the Congress.
Gopal Das Agarwal, who was a Congress Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 2004 to 2019, switched to the BJP in 2019 but lost. He has since returned to the Congress. Vinod Agarwal, an independent candidate who defeated Gopal Das Agarwal in 2019, joined the BJP and has the backing of former Union minister Praful Patel, who is now aligned with the Mahayuti alliance. Another key figure is Rameshkumar Kuthe from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), who has failed to secure the ticket in this intra-alliance contest.
This has brought political dynamics in Gondia full circle, with Gopal Das back in Congress and Vinod returning to the BJP. Fadnavis commented that despite winning as an independent MLA in 2019, Vinod continued to function effectively as a "BJP MLA." The tribal Gondwana party is also expected to play a significant role as a vote-cutter in this constituency.
When I ask how a small minority of banias have come to dominate the district, they say that both Agarwals have a legacy of working for 40 years.
Gondia City
Within Gondia district, Gondia city is developing rapidly and even has an airport. Thanks to the UDAAN scheme, there are now flights connecting Gondia to Hyderabad. Central India has a notable concentration of airports within a 200-kilometre (km) radius, including Nagpur, Jabalpur, Raipur, Gondia, and Amravati.
In Gondia town, I visited the home of Ajay Lilhare and his father, Muralidhar, who manage a large rice farm and a small flower nursery. Their hospitality was heart-warming, as they insisted on serving chai and snacks to an honoured guest from the country's capital!
Our conversation touched on classic issues — bijli (electricity), sadak (roads), and pani (water). Ajay highlighted how infrastructure has improved, with reliable 24x7 electricity and nearly universal piped water under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The roads in these parts are mostly good, but there is a lot of corruption among contractors that ensure future repair work for themselves.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has also been widely successful here, with nearly everyone benefitting from the affordable housing initiative. However, the Lilhare family pointed out a small community — the Gorwa tribe — that faces challenges accessing these benefits.
I enquired about the agricultural business, and they shared extensive details. First, nearly everyone here relies on borewells, as there are no irrigation facilities; the water from the Wainganga dam is distributed to Gadchiroli and Bhandara, not here.
They have access to a Central Cooperative Bank, which offers subsidised loans for purchasing seeds through private cooperative societies. These loans carry interest only after two years. While some private seed cooperatives exist, the Lilhares complain of seed adulteration, claiming that officials and even ministers are allegedly turning a blind eye. Similar issues persist with fertilisers and pesticides. I was surprised to hear about the presence of an active cooperative sector here, considering it has traditionally been one of Vidarbha's weak points.
They are very pleased with the cash transfer programmes for farmers and women. Muralidhar recalls that 20 years ago, many families faced daily hunger, and some even resorted to suicide. Now, the government provides essential facilities and cash support, creating a solid social safety net that includes insurance, which has been invaluable for those in need. Additionally, free rations are available for poor labourers.
"What more can the government do? They can't come and cook your food," he laughs. I was very pleased to hear that a comprehensive social security net, including insurance, is coming handy for the poor. One could say that Prime Minister Modi's vision of achieving "saturation" of basic services is close to reality in this remote part of Maharashtra.
Healthcare facilities are commendable, with a well-functioning Primary Health Centre (PHC) and a successful Jan Aushadhi programme. Educational facilities are basic but functional.
In fact, Ajay is a postgraduate of a local college, though he laments the lack of employment opportunities here. While he has been resourceful, assisting his father in farming, many of his friends, also graduates, spend their time idly or fall into substance abuse due to the lack of jobs. There are no industries in the area to provide employment.
When I asked about the issue of Maoism, Muralidhar noted that while it hasn’t been eradicated, it has decreased by about 50 per cent. Nonetheless, their presence is insignificant in larger towns.
The Lilhares get their news from Aaj Tak and Navbharat Times and are very proud supporters of Prime Minister Modi. They mention that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee once visited Gondia. Shiv Sena is said to have a strong presence in the area, and Balasaheb Thackeray reportedly had a particular fondness for Gondia.
The hopeful stories of progress, like that of the Lilhares, from remote corners of India really warm your heart. The security issue is the silent ghost that sits in the background.
The hospitality industry in Gondia, like the Ginger Hotel I stayed in, benefits from ecotourism and agricultural commerce. Gondia’s proximity to National Parks brings in birdwatchers drawn by the Sarus cranes. Rice traders usually fill up the hotels during the post-harvest season.
Vidarbha’s complex caste equations, tribal party presence, burgeoning cooperative movements, and socioeconomic challenges highlight the diversity of its voter base and their nuanced concerns. As Maharashtra heads for an election, Gondia’s voters are likely to prioritise local issues, often making decisions based on immediate benefits rather than long-standing political affiliations.
Earlier dispatches in the 'Vibes of Vidarbha' series:
