Tribal Families End 12-Year Exile, Rehabilitated In Gujarat Village

BANASKANTHA (IANS)- After 12 years of forced exile, around 300 members from 29 Kodarvi tribal families have returned to their native Mota Pipodra village in Banaskantha district, Gujarat. Their suffering, stemming from the tribal custom of ‘Chadotaru’ – a tradition rooted in vengeance – officially ended today.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, led the rehabilitation efforts, marking a historic occasion for the community. The event included a prayer ceremony and seed sowing on the land, symbolizing a new beginning.

Years ago, these tribal families were forced to migrate from their ancestral land, settling in regions like Palanpur and Surat. July 17 thus marked a memorable moment for their dignified return and resettlement.

Sanghavi explained, “In Mota Pipodara village of Danta taluka, 29 families with 300 people who had to leave the village 14 years ago due to old social customs, were respectfully rehabilitated.”

The Banaskantha Police, in coordination with the District Inspector of Land Records, played a crucial role in the rehabilitation. They surveyed approximately 8.5 hectares of land belonging to these families, clearing overgrown and barren areas to make them cultivable again.

The ‘Chadotaru’ custom, which had prompted their initial displacement, deeply affected the Kodarvi community. To facilitate the return, Banaskantha Police diligently gathered details of the displaced families, contacted them, and initiated meetings with the village panchayat and elders from both communities to ensure peace and reconciliation.