https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

For the Sake of Tribals

Indian Masterminds Stories

For many people, there is no bigger blessing than to serve the nation. It is a job of immense satisfaction and pride. The IAS officer of 2017 batch Mr. Manuj Jindal grew up with this dream in his heart. So, after passing the 12th class, he attempted NDA and got selected. However, this was not his destiny, and in just six month gave it up due to medical reasons.

Subsequent events took him to foreign shores, and he landed himself a job in the United States. But he returned to India, probably pushed by that dream, and cleared the UPSC. 

In an interview with ‘Indian Masterminds’, Mr Jindal opened up about his struggles after leaving NDA, journey through UPSC and his initiatives for tribal of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. 

‘It was difficult after leaving NDA’ 

He is currently the SDM in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra

To be in army was what Mr. Jindal wanted initially. When he got into NDA in the first attempt, he was so excited. Then, he faced some serious health issue and in six months after his joining, he has to give up his place. This was very hard for him and his family. Recalling his situations back then he said, “When I came back from the army, the admissions in Indian universities were closed. I had to wait for another 6 months to get enrolled. I was upset and this worsened my situation. I had to start everything from scratch and my family was also under pressure economically, but they supported me.”

Under advice of some seniors and his parents, Mr. Jindal started preparing for SAT and was selected for an under-grad programmed in USA. After completing the graduation in Economics, he got a job there with handsome salary. 

He always wanted to come back because he was not satisfied with the work he was doing., In 2014, Mr Jindal  came back to India and started hi preparation for UPSC. He says that other than UPSC there are very few position through which one can work on grassroots level. He was very passionate about getting in civil services, and secured AIR 53 in his third attempt. 

Training centers and First information boxes for Tribals 

Currently posted as SDM in Bhamragad, Gadchiroli, Mr Jindal is setting new benchmarks with his approach to work. Sharing his experience he said, “It is my first posting. The region comes in the southern-eastern most past of the district. Most of the population is tribal and naxalism also plays a major role here. Apart from that, the tribals have their unique ways of living and aren’t exposed to many things as we are. Before coming here, I prepared a lot and thought about the things I would do. But, everything can’t go as we planned. So, I changed my approached and I learnt many new lessons.” 

Manuj Jindal, IAS of 2017 batch

Mr Jindal started visiting the tribal houses for lunch and went to their fields during sowing of rice, and started connecting with them. When people came to him for issues like electricity or water supply , he would try to solve these promptly. That way, he soon became their friend and well-wisher. Earlier this year, he renovated a vacant `tehsil’ building and turned it into a training center for tribals. Around 50 young girls and boys have been part of this initiative and have learnt wood, bamboo arts and paintings. The second batch has also been started. There is an Art gallery in the center where the students present and sell their work. Before the lockdown, the total earning of the gallery was around 2 lakhs. Mr Jindal is  hopeful that it will grow more. 

Mr Jindal is also planning to set up First information box in every village of the district. It will contain the information about people’s rights, the process of applying for any loan, ration card or identity card etc. in their local language. He is also working on giving this information to them in audio format. Emphasizing about its need he said that in the absence of internet in these backward areas of Ghadchiroli, such steps meant a lot to the people.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IAS Ashwani Kumar
Assam’s Bold Bet on Local Talent: IAS Ashwani Kumar’s Vision for a Digital Assam
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
SBK Singh IPS CP
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh Bans Aerial Platforms from August 2 to 16 for Security Reasons
IPS-logo-resized_new
10 Senior Cops Get New Roles In Bihar Police; DG Jitendra Kumar Gets Additional Charge of B-SAP
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
Jharkhand IFS Rajneesh Kumar Transferred Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings - Details Inside
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
17 Review Officers Transferred in Uttar Pradesh Secretariat Administration Reshuffle - Details Inside
IFS-forest-resized
6 IFS Officers Transferred in Odisha to Strengthen Environmental Administration, Jagayandatt Pati Made RCCF, Koraput Circle
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
4 Young IAS Officers Reshuffled in Uttarakhand, Rahul Anand Made Joint Magistrate, Dehradun
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IAS Ashwani Kumar
Assam’s Bold Bet on Local Talent: IAS Ashwani Kumar’s Vision for a Digital Assam
Haryana Jungle Safari
Haryana’s Mega Jungle Safari Project Moves Closer to Reality; Phase-I Design Finalised
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT