In Tribal Belts of Maharashtra, Multiple Issues, Multiple Parties

Mithun Raut of Belpali, Harsul in Nashik district is a staunch Shiv Sena supporter. His father, Pandurang Raut, had started first branch of Shiv Sena in this deep tribal pocket of Nashik way back in 1986. Interestingly, his father had received support from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal to start the party branch. This election, Bhujbal’s nephew is contesting from Nashik, but Raut is firmly supporting Shiv Sena.

“Hindutva is our ideology. No matter what, we will do everything for Hindutva,” said Raut. When asked how the ideology makes a difference in his life, he doesn’t have an answer to it. “We have been told by our parents that we need to safeguard Hindutva. That’s what we are doing,” he said.

Raut belongs to the Kokana tribe. Earlier, people from this tribe were reognised as Hindu Kokana. It has been changed now to only Kokana. That does not change Raut’s opinion. He is a firm believer of Hindutva.

Maharashtra’s tribal population is spread over almost all the districts. They are decisive in nearly 10 Lok Sabha seats. According to the government’s data, 5,809 villages, 16 towns under 12 districts of Maharashtra have tribal population – adding up to 46,531 square km in area, and almost 15.1% of the state. Maharashtra is the second highest in terms of size of the population in India. According to government census of 1991, tribal population in Maharashtra was 73.18 lakh. Around 11 major tribes reside in the state with Gond tribe having the highest population of 11.63 lakh. Bhind is the next with 9.93 lakh and Mahadev Koli population is 7.87 lakh. Other major tribes are Warli, Kokana, Thakur, Halba, Andh, Koli Malhar, Katkari, Kolam, Korku and Gamit.  Palghar, Thane, Pune, Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nasik, Gadchiroli, Yeotmal and Chandrapur are the main districts where tribal population resides in large numbers. Apart from these, Raigad, Bhandara, Gondia, Ahmednagar, Nanded, Parbhani and Ratnagiri districts also have a sizable population of the tribals.

Thousands of tribals from Nashik, Palghar, Dhule and Nandurbar districts had walked for more than eight days in 2018 to the state capital. They were farmers, and were demanding their rights. They have been farming on the land for generations, but they don’t own that land. The march was organized by All India Kisan Sabha of Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM). Maharashtra government had accepted their demand, but nothing has happened in the last one and a half year.

“I was there a part of that march. I am farming on a three-acre land. So, I have sent an application to the government for the ownership of the land. But nothing has happened till now,” said Hiraman Kanoje.

“We believe that our leader Jiva Gavit will give us this land one day. He has been fighting for it over 25 years now. Whatever progress has happened—a few families have received government orders—it is because of him,” said Ramdas Kanoje. Both of them are from Sapatpali village of Tryambakeshwar tehsil in Nashik. CPM’s candidate Gavit is contesting from Dindori Lok Sabha constituency.

“We have only one college in Harsul. Capacity of each class is just 50 students. But there are 400 students in each class. Now you can imagine the stress on the students and teachers. How will the students get quality education in such circumstances?” asks Sandeep Battase, a local journalist from Harsul.

As India is facing one of the worst ever job crises, the tribal zones have the same story to tell. Atmaram Borase has an MA along with Bachelors in Education (B.Ed.). “What to do with this education? Recruitment is closed in the state for last five years. I have been looking everywhere. Now I work in a farm. It looks like the government doesn’t want us to go beyond agriculture,” said Borase, who hails from Torangan village. Battase told NewsClick, “There are around 2,000 graduate youths in our area (58 villages). None of them have found a job.”

Despite reservation for the ST category under constitutional provision, these youths can’t find jobs because the government has stopped recruitments in the last six years.

In its last year in office, Maharashtra’s Bharatiya Janata Party – Shiv Sena government has come up with government job openings. So, recruitments for 72,000 posts in various departments of the government or in government, semi-government and non-government schools, (the exact number of which even Education Minister Vinod Tawde could not declare) is likely to be started very soon.

Apart from that, military and paramilitary jobs are the only opportunities available for the youths from the tribal areas. Hiraman Shevare from Torangaon retired after 20 years in Para Border Security Force. “Now I am starting academy for recruitment guidance. Because if these youths get proper training, be it physical or for written exam, they can crack it. As there are no government jobs available, I think our boys should focus on military openings,” said Shevare.

Interestingly, for many of the older tribals from these villages, the most important issue was imposition of Uniform Civil Code (UCC). BJP has promised to bring (UCC) if it comes back to power. Maruti Dhangar of Wayghol Pada said, “We are tribals. Constitution has given us our right as Scheduled tribals. This UCC will destroy our culture, our special status and our protection. BJP has talked about UCC a number of times. We will have to protect ourselves from it. Everyone will support. We will go and tell our people the dangers of bringing such in laws.”