For the first time in Chhattisgarh, a woman Chief Electoral Officer led the assembly elections. Conducting elections in a sensitive area like Bastar has always been a challenge. Bastar is the most Naxal-affected area in the country. In the last two decades, about a thousand security personnel have been martyred there, and almost the same number of civilians have also lost their lives. Naxalites create bloodshed in every election in Bastar. Sometimes they attack the polling party, and sometimes they fire on the Air Force helicopter.
Reena Baba Kangale conducted voting for the first time after independence in about 120 villages in the Bastar division. She has successfully conducted the 2024 parliamentary elections, achieving a notable voter turnout of 72.80%, which represents a major increase of 1.31% from the 2019 parliamentary elections. She effectively led the elections, achieving a notable voter turnout of 72.80%, which represents a major increase of 1.31% from the 2019 parliamentary elections.
Special efforts were taken to ensure participation of primitive tribal groups in the parliamentary elections of 2024, which led to 100% voting in a significant number of polling stations in the state with PVTG enrollment. Her efforts were lauded by the Governor of Chhattisgarh and by the Election Commission of India for working tirelessly to encourage voting amongst PVTGs with booth-level officials and staff playing a crucial role.
Chhattisgarh’s PVTG community comprises 1.16 lakh voters, accounting for approximately 2 percent of the state's total tribal population, and their contribution to strengthening democracy in Chhattisgarh and the country is truly inspiring and serves as a beacon of motivation.
102 severely Naxal-affected villages of the BASTAR DIVISION voted for the first time in national elections since independence due to the normalization of the situation and confidence-building measures.
A history of successful leadership was produced during the Assembly Elections of 2023, which was the first time in elections where all polling booths were totally handled by women in an assembly segment. This action was a demonstration of her leadership abilities. Within the Raipur North Assembly Constituency, a total of 1046 women were responsible for the management of 201 booths.
IAS Reena Baba Saheb Kangale was born on March 8, 1978, in Nagpur. Her father has been the Police Commissioner of Nagpur. She completed her LLB degree in first division from Nagpur University. She was a university topper and has won 11 gold medals. Reena Baba Saheb Kangale was selected as IAS through UPSC in 2003. After getting Chhattisgarh cadre, she got her first posting as Assistant Collector of Durg. After this, she was the Collector of Durg, Dantewada and Korba.
Reena Baba Saheb Kangale has been SDM Katghora since 2005. He has also served as CEO District Panchayat in Durg, Surguja, Additional Collector Raipur, and Collector of Durg, Dantewada, and Korba. She became the Director of Education in 2011-12. After this, she was the Director of the Mineral Department from 2015 to 2017. She was the Secretary of the Tribal Welfare Department from 2017 to 2019. After this, she was the Secretary of the Commercial Tax Department from 2019 to 2020. In January 2020, she was given the responsibility of Chief Electoral Officer.
During her tenure as the collector of Durg, Reena Baba Saheb Kangale levied a penalty of Rs 114 crore on two private schools for capricious fee collection. Following this decision, the collector's audacious action garnered significant attention, as members of the parents' association were mobilizing in many districts, including Durg and the capital, Raipur.
She is honored with the Best Performing State Award for Election Management 2024 for the overall conduct of free, fair, inclusive, and participative elections in Chhattisgarh.
