Latest news with #Chadotara
News18
18-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Success Story: IPS Suman Nala, A BITS Pilani Engineering Graduate, Cracked UPSC In 4th Attempt
A young probationary officer, IPS Suman Nala ended the 12-year social exile of 29 families from Banaskantha, gaining attention for her efforts. In the remote tribal region of Banaskantha, 29 families who had endured social exile for over a decade have finally returned home. Nearly 300 members of the Kodarvi community were ostracized, their homes deserted, and their farmlands neglected. Forced to leave, they survived as daily wage labourers in Surat, Palanpur, and other cities, cut off from their heritage and identity. For 12 years, no solution emerged until fate intervened in the form of IPS probationary officer Suman Nala. A young probationary officer, Nala ended the 12-year social exile of 29 families from Banaskantha, gaining attention for her efforts. Born into a modest family, she completed an engineering degree in Computer Science from BITS Pilani in 2012 and worked for three years at Oracle, but her dream was to become a civil service officer. Consequently, she left her job. In 2019, she secured the 508th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Exam on her fourth attempt and was selected for the post of IPS. Initially appointed to the Jharkhand cadre in 2021, she was transferred to the Gujarat cadre due to her marriage to Gujarat cadre IPS Om Prakash Jat. Since then, she has been serving in Gujarat. Suman's journey was challenging. The UPSC syllabus and her engineering background posed difficulties, as computer science was not an optional subject. She cleared the prelims for the first time in 2016 but did not pass the mains. In 2017, she reached the interview stage but did not make the final list. She failed again in 2018, but with support from her husband (who had also cleared UPSC) and her parents, she succeeded in 2019. Suman's strategy was effective. For prelims, she studied mock tests and monthly current affairs, believing that tests indicate what to remember and what to overlook. For her optional subject, she chose history, which she enjoyed. She prepared for prelims and mains simultaneously, focusing on prelims three to four months prior, then revising mains. Making notes was a habit that helped in revision. In the interview, she focused on her state, district, career, and education. A 2021 batch IPS officer, she was posted as ASP in Danta. There, her domestic help informed her that her parents were among the 300 people of the Kodarvi community ostracised for 12 years under the 'Chadotara' tradition following the 2014 murder. Suman investigated the case and found that the main accused had been acquitted, yet the punishment persisted. She began discussions with the Panchs along with SP Akshayraj Makwana and Sub-Inspector Jayshree Desai. Through patient negotiations and raising Rs 70 lakh (Rs 40 lakh from the collector fund and Rs 30 lakh from NGOs), she succeeded in bringing the families back. Now the fields are flourishing, 30 houses are being built, and the children are attending school. view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 17:16 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Time of India
How a young IPS officer helped end 12-year-long social exile in Banaskantha
Ahmedabad: In the remote tribal belt of Banaskantha, 29 families who had lived in the shadows of social exile for over a decade have finally returned home — not by court orders or govt mandates, but through the quiet resolve and empathy of a young IPS probationary officer. It all began in 2014, when a murder in Mota Pipodara village led to the invocation of a traditional tribal justice system known as 'Chadotara'— a traditional dispute resolution system. Intended as a means to restore harmony, it instead tore the community apart. Nearly 300 members of the Kodarvi community were ostracized, their homes abandoned, and their farmlands left to dry. Forced to leave, they survived as daily wage labourers in Surat, Palanpur, and other cities, cut off from their roots and identity. For 12 years, no solution emerged — until fate intervened in the form of IPS probationary officer Suman Nala. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Posted as assistant superintendent of police (ASP) in Danta, Nala, a 2021-batch officer, learned of the Kodarvi families' plight through an unlikely source — her domestic help. The woman revealed that her parents were among those exiled due to a Chadotaru. Moved by the story, Nala began investigating. She discovered that the main accused in the original murder case had been acquitted years ago. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Yet the punishment endured for the rest. Despite being on probation, Nala took up the cause. Teaming up with Banaskantha SP Akshayraj Makwana and Hadad police sub-inspector Jayshree Desai, she began the process of dialogue with both communities. Round after round of patient negotiation with village panchs slowly began to bear fruit. But Nala didn't stop at conflict resolution. Understanding that the families needed more than just permission to return, she spearheaded a coordinated effort with the district collector and local NGOs to secure funding for their resettlement. A total of Rs 70 lakh was mobilized — Rs 40 lakh from the collector's fund and Rs 30 lakh from civil society. The results are transformative. Farmlands once abandoned are now being cultivated. Thirty homes are under construction. Electricity and water connections are being restored. Children are back in school. A new community hall is rising, and concrete roads are being laid — paving not just the way home, but the path to a dignified future. "This isn't just a return. It's a restoration of belonging," said an official statement from the police. "By choosing dialogue over division and empathy over enforcement, we've shown that policing can be a bridge to peace." Today, as the Kodarvi families resettle, communities have joined hands to build a peaceful, progressive future — creating a historic moment that will inspire generations to come. The reunion of the Kodarvi families with their homeland is more than just an administrative success — it is a reminder that change begins with listening, and that one officer's compassion can heal wounds buried for years.
