NMIMS Shirpur Campus, in collaboration with National Law University, Jabalpur; The Centre for Rural Development and Technology, IIT, Indore; The Indian Institute of Management, Indore; The Centre for Studies in Tribal and Indigenous Communities, DNLU, Jabalpur; and Think India, Bharat, successfully organized “Shodh-Yatra-2024”, an unique initiative of a 70-km foot march through remote tribal villages of Madhya Pradesh (MP) (from 25th Dec-31st Dec’2024 - 7 days), providing an extraordinary opportunity to explore the vibrant tribal lifestyle, understanding tribal systems, and interacting with the local communities.
The objective of the Shodh Yatra was to record the traditional practices of the tribal area and analyze them based on scientific knowledge and methods. The group of Young Professionals under the leadership of Shirpur Campus faculty, Mr. Saurabh Maru, Assistant Prof. SPTM, Shirpur, visited the remotest villages of Madhya Pradesh, interacted with tribal people to understand their issues and facilitated them with various government schemes for Tribal communities in education, medical sector, etc. and recorded many tribal traditions which are unique and have high transforming impact on civilization like Van Bhaji, Dhas, Basak, etc.
In a total of 12 medical camps, 800 tribals were screened for sickle cell anaemia, 117 people were found positive. Mr. Saurabh Maru interacted with 600 students and conducted 8 motivational and career guidance sessions in the schools of these villages. A total of 5,000 people interacted with the Shodh Yatra. Plantations of Banyan and Sacred fig plants were done in villages. Two water bodies were constructed through the tribal tradition of "Dhas".
Over the years, the initiative has transformed healthcare in the tribal area as the locally residing students have become the heads of the Primary Health Centres. PHCs are well connected with the local residents and thus are available for treatment and in a sympathetic manner. The scientific documentation of the Van Bhaji is going on, and people are made aware of it.
Shodh-Yatra-2024 was concluded on 31st December 2024 at Kotbandhani by praying the tribute to the river Narmada.
This year, Madhya Pradesh Rajyapal, Shri. Manubhai C. Patel, the Member of Parliament, Barwani-Khargone constituency; Barwani District Collector, Dr. Rahul Fating, the Superintendent of Police; MLAs around the Pati Block, CMHO and DHO, Barwani, have taken an interest in this young professional-led initiative, and they wholeheartedly supported this unique initiative. "
