Media Coverage | 17-08-2026
Thousands of crores spent in the name of tribals, yet the misfortune of sleeping on the floor! Why?
Dr Vijay Darda
The death of three young girls due to snakebite at the Japtalai residential ashram school in Dhanora taluka of Gadchiroli had already caused deep anguish, when another horrific piece of information shook me to the core. The official reports state that 584 students have died within two years in the ashramshalas across Maharashtra, considered an advanced state. It sounds incredible but these are the figures from the tribal development department itself.
Whenever any foreigner refers to our country as a land of snake charmers and jugglers, my blood boils; but when the situation is such as this, not only does my blood boil, my heart cries out in anguish as well. After the three girls died from snakebites at the Japtalai residential ashram school in Dhanora taluka of Gadchiroli, an investigation into the remaining ashramshalas began, bringing this horrifying figure to light. While 384 student deaths occurred in government-run ashramshalas, 200 students died in the aided ones. Among these, 273 students lost their lives due to lack of medical treatment or severe illnesses. But even more heartbreaking is that 55 students committed suicide. And the issue of snakebites is shocking in itself! Over the past two years, 28 students lost their lives to venomous snakebites. Among these, 22 children belonged to government ashramshalas and six to the aided ashramshalas! This means everyone is complicit in the crime. The victims were all poor tribal children who must have dreamed of a bright future. The parents must have shared those dreams too, but all those dreams remained unfulfilled!
I believe the students were bitten not by snakes, but by the snakes who have a stranglehold on the system. When the snake entered the ashram school in Gadchiroli, more than 70 young girls were sleeping on the floor. Can you imagine children being forced to sleep on the floor in an ashram school? That too when the institution receives government grants and is run by an organisation owned by a former minister and MP! It was managed by former MP and minister Marotrao Kowase’s charitable trust, the Kuparlingo Educational and Cultural Development Research Institute. What a grand name, isn’t it? For a tribal ashram school, this name sounds as if students from all over the world were studying there. And notice this as well: Even if the officials concerned belong to another community, organisations run for tribal development are entrusted to leaders from the tribal community itself so they understand their people’s pain and problems. But here, the fence itself is eating the crop, thanks to the officials-politicians’ nexus!
These leaders and officials are deeply concerned about building the future of their own children. They want to turn their offspring into Ambani or Adani, but they never reflect on the fact that the children of tribals also have every right to dream. And what do they think? They think they can build their own children’s future by stealing the money meant for the tribals! They feel no shame whatsoever! They are committing sheer betrayal! This is the precise reason why, despite spending thousands of crores of rupees through various schemes, the condition across Maharashtra’s tribal belts remains deplorable. Be it Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Melghat or the tribal regions of Palghar and Raigad, the spoils are being divided among vested interests everywhere. Officials coiled like venomous snakes within the system swallow even the children’s food. Water is served in the name of dal. The question is, where has fear of the system vanished?
After the Gadchiroli incident, the police has registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the trust’s chairman Marotrao Kowase, his secretary, the school principal and two wardens. They have been suspended, but past incidents show that suspensions are eventually revoked. Honourable chief minister, conduct the strictest possible audit and take stern action, no matter how influential the person may be! We usually take action after a tragic incident occurs, but by now you already know how ashramshalas operate in rural areas and how hospitals function! Audit them immediately. If those deserving are denied their rights, it is a grave sin. Those who rob tribals of their rightful dues are sinners. What else can I call those who make money by sucking the lifeblood of society? Honourable chief minister, no matter what it takes, this must be stopped. The entire system must be cleaned up. These are the very people impeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India. Clear them out of the way!
Why is there such an uproar?
Last week, a massive storm erupted over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill. Ultimately, the government referred the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The crucial question is: Why was there such an uproar? Data indicates that India’s NGOs receive an average of Rs 18,580 crore in foreign donations every year. Among these, the United States is the largest donor, followed by the UK and other European nations. The government has its own concerns regarding this aid and believes transparency is essential because a few NGOs misuse these funds. However, the NGOs feel the government is tightening the leash on them. An American lawmaker, Riley Moore, feels that if this Bill is approved, the Christian organisations in India will face immense hardship. Now, the JPC will determine whose concerns are truly valid. Let us wait!
