This story is from September 13, 2020

Traditional dispute settlement keeps crime low in Gadchiroli

The ‘Polwa’ system of holding weekly meeting at the ghotul or tribal community hall in Gadchiroli seems to have resulted in least number of offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC) being registered here. Despite Maoist presence, this remote district had the lowest crime rate in Maharashtra, as per State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) data of 2018.
Traditional dispute settlement keeps crime low in Gadchiroli
NAGPUR: The ‘Polwa’ system of holding weekly meeting at the ghotul or tribal community hall in Gadchiroli seems to have resulted in least number of offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC) being registered here. Despite Maoist presence, this remote district had the lowest crime rate in Maharashtra, as per State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) data of 2018.
Gadchiroli had the least number of only 1,052 IPC offences registered.
It was followed by Sindhudurg with 1,304 offences and another tribal district Nandurbar with 1,681. These data of IPC crimes are mostly considered separately from the crimes committed by the Maoists that are registered under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
As per the crime rate calculations (crime per one lakh population), Gadchiroli district had the lowest 17.84 which is lowest in the state. In comparison, Nagpur city’s crime rate was 138.67 and Nagpur rural’s 71.32.
Aniket Amte, administrator of Lok Biradari Prakalp at Hemalkasa in Bhamragarh taluka of south Gadchiroli, said the tribals have a unique way of settling their disputes at the village-level meeting where the ‘panch’ or senior villagers listen to the grievances and give their decisions.
“The tribals summon meetings to discuss their disputes and other issues and try to settle it among themselves rather than go to police,” said Amte. “They levy fines like giving some rice and such other things as per the gravity. In rare cases they may also boycott the wrongdoer. Some disputes are referred to us and we try to settle it for them,” said Amte who has a close experience of the tribal life and society.
“The tribals find it much more comfortable to settle the issues within their cultural ambit rather than take to the police and court,” he said.

SP Shailesh Balkawade said the geographical vastness, minimum urbanization and cultural aspects propel the tribals to settle issues among themselves rather than walk for many kilometres to reach a police station. “Minor scuffles and disputes are settled within the village. Generally, there are fewer land disputes and fights arising from them,” he said.
The data shows there had been considerably less number of IPC crimes in Gadchiroli over the last few years. After a spurt of 3,959 IPC crimes in 2013, there were 875 in 2014, 1,499 in 2015, 1,419 in 2016 and 1,276 in 2017.
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