Long before community forest rights became a widely discussed policy issue, a school dropout from Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district was quietly transforming how villages governed their forests.
Devaji Navalu Tofa, a Gond tribal leader from Mendha (Lekha), led a decades-long, non-violent movement that empowered Gram Sabhas to manage forest resources under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
His leadership helped Mendha (Lekha) become the first village in India to receive the authority to issue transit passes for bamboo, setting a landmark precedent for community-led forest governance.
Through his belief that local communities are the best custodians of forests, Tofa inspired hundreds of villages across Gadchiroli and beyond to reclaim their rights while promoting sustainable development.
A Movement Rooted in Self-Governance
Born into the Gond tribal community in Mendha (Lekha) village, Devaji Tofa left formal education after Class IV. Despite limited schooling, he emerged as one of India’s most influential grassroots leaders by relying on traditional knowledge, collective decision-making and an unwavering commitment to his community.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, he joined the resistance against the proposed Bhopalpattanam and Inchampalli dam projects, which threatened forests and tribal livelihoods.
Alongside noted environmental activist Mohan Hirabai Hiralal, he later launched the Jungle Bachao, Manav Bachao (Save Forest, Save Humanity) movement, advocating for forest conservation, tribal self-rule and democratic village governance.
The movement popularised the now iconic slogan, “In Delhi and Mumbai is our government, but in our village, we are the government,” reflecting the belief that Gram Sabhas should have the final say over local resources and development.
Changing India’s Forest Governance
The enactment of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 became a turning point for Mendha (Lekha). Under Tofa’s leadership, the village successfully secured Community Forest Rights, becoming one of the first villages in the country to exercise these provisions in practice. In 2011, the Maharashtra government formally handed over the transit pass book to the Gram Sabha, enabling the village to issue permits for transporting bamboo without depending on the Forest Department.
The achievement transformed bamboo from a tightly controlled forest resource into a community-managed asset. Income generated through bamboo harvesting and sales was reinvested in local development, while employment opportunities and wages for villagers improved significantly.
The Mendha model demonstrated that conservation and livelihoods could coexist when communities were entrusted with managing their forests responsibly.
A Legacy That Continues to Inspire
Devaji Tofa’s leadership extended far beyond his village. His work has been widely recognised as a model of participatory democracy, environmental stewardship and tribal empowerment, inspiring hundreds of villages in Gadchiroli to pursue Community Forest Rights.
Through consensus-based Gram Sabha meetings, transparent decision-making and sustainable forest management, Mendha (Lekha) has become an example of how constitutional rights can strengthen both people and the environment.
Although often described as the “Anna Hazare of Mendha (Lekha),” Tofa’s legacy stands on its own as a testament to the power of grassroots leadership.
His journey reminds us that transformative change does not always begin in legislatures or courtrooms; it can begin in a small forest village where ordinary citizens decide to govern their own future with courage, unity and respect for nature.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Devaji Tofa’s story highlights the transformative potential of community participation in governance. His journey illustrates that sustainable development is most effective when local communities are trusted as equal stakeholders rather than passive beneficiaries.
As India continues to balance conservation with development, the Mendha (Lekha) model offers an enduring lesson: empowering people at the grassroots can strengthen democracy, protect natural resources and create inclusive growth that benefits both present and future generations.
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