Former Maoist Politburo Member Mallojula Joins Gondwana University
· India · Indian Express, The Hindu
Former CPI (Maoist) Politburo member Mallojula Venugopal has joined Gondwana University in Gadchiroli as a temporary coordinator at its Village Council Capacity Building and Training Centre. The 70-year-old former leader, who surrendered to police on October 14 last year along with more than 60 associates, was selected after interviews following public advertisements for the post in August. In his new role, Venugopal will visit villages across Gadchiroli to supervise Gram Sabhas and create awareness among tribal communities about their legal rights under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and forest-related laws. Venugopal previously served as the ideological head and spokesperson for the Maoist party before stepping down from active insurgency. He acknowledged that while PESA was enacted in 1996, the Maoist organisation made the mistake of opposing it until recent years, which prevented tribal populations from accessing legal benefits.
Why it matters
The rehabilitation of a former top insurgent into an institutional role highlights changing dynamics in Gadchiroli's tribal administration and local governance outreach.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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