Banaskantha: For 12 years, 29 tribal families belonging to the Kodarvi community lived in forced exile, driven out of their ancestral village, Mota Pipodra in Banaskantha district’s Danta taluka, by an age-old practice called ‘Chadotaru’—a custom steeped in cycles of revenge. Now, after more than a decade and with collective effort, these families, about 300 individuals, are finally set to return home on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Having left behind their homes, farmland, and memories, the Kodarvi families had scattered across places like Palanpur and Surat. The deeply rooted ‘Chadotaru’ practice had created long-standing tensions that made it impossible for them to remain in the village.

Recognising their plight, Banaskantha Police gathered details about these families and reached out to them. Meetings were organised with Gram Panchayat leaders and representatives from both communities to ensure peace in the village upon their return.

These families collectively own 8.5 hectares of land in the village. In coordination with the District Inspector Land Records, Banaskantha Police identified and measured this land. Once overgrown with bushes and left barren, the land was cleared, levelled, and made suitable for cultivation. Additionally, two houses have already been built for these families. The district administration, along with the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme and various voluntary organisations, is also working to provide homes and other essential facilities to the remaining 27 families soon.

As part of this rehabilitation effort, Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, will formally welcome the families back to the village. He will also perform a puja on their land and sow seeds, symbolising their reintegration into the village community. Following this, the Minister will meet with the returning families to discuss their rehabilitation plans. He will also distribute educational materials and ration kits to support them.

This event stands as a symbol of a new beginning—bringing hope, peace, and happiness to these resettled tribal families. DeshGujarat