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
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
Nitin Gadkari
India to Become Net Energy Exporter in 6-7 Years, Highlights Hydrogen and Biofuels: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Bank of India - BOI
Bank of India Plans to Raise Rs 20,000 Crore via Infrastructure Bonds in FY 2025-26
BEML Limited
For Operational Excellence, BEML Lays Foundation of State-of-the-Art Central Warehousing Centre in Bilaspur
rec-logo
Green Energy Boost: REC Forms New Subsidiary for 3GW Ananthapuram-II REZ Transmission Project
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
CM Bhupendra Patel’s Pro-People Move: Uniform House Tax of ₹200 Annually for Rural Government-Assisted Homes in Gujarat
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar: Gaya to Become Bihar’s Largest Industrial Township Under AKIC; ₹16,524 Cr Investment Expected
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
Retired Officers Lead 7-Day Mission to Revive Betwa River with 55 Check Dams | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT