We Are the Government — How a Village Took Charge of Its Own Future | Devaji Tofa | TEDxDantewada
Village leader Devaji Tofa reveals how self-governance and environmental stewardship empowered his community. Through his story, learn why unity and grassroots activism can turn even the smallest village into a beacon of change. Devaji Tofa is the visionary tribal leader from Mendha (Lekha), Maharashtra, who pioneered India’s first village-led governance model. With the motto “Amchya Gavat Amhich Sarkar” (“We are the government in our village”), he empowered his community to secure rights over local resources—including becoming the first village in India to issue bamboo transit permits. Once a school drop-out and now a D.Litt. recipient, Devaji has become a national symbol of grassroots democracy, environmental stewardship, and indigenous empowerment. His legacy continues to inspire self-reliant rural transformation across the country. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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