Offbeat Tour to Anandwan – Shodhgram – Hemalkasa

Anandwan – was founded in 1948 by Baba Amte to care for the outcast leprosy patients. He developed it into a self-reliant community relying on agriculture, home-based small scale industry units—all run by leprosy patients who have recovered/recovering from their illness. Residents stay as communes, where a cluster of people live together and share resources. There are around seven communes now with over 2,500 people live, making it one of the world’s largest communities of physically challenged people. A community that is bonded by care and love for each other!

Hemalkasa (Lok Biradari Prakalp)  – A People’s Brotherhood Program started by Dr. Prakash Baba Amte revolutionize The Madia Gond Tribe. The Madia Gond is a primitive tribe inhabiting the Dandakaranya forests in the Central Eastern part of Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. A phenomenal race, the tribes have been in existence for centuries. However, this gentle race was completely cut-off from civilization, knowing no clothing, education or health care until Lok Biradari Prakalp was established. A comprehensive program inclusive of a Hospital, School, Hostel, Animal Arc & allied activities made this unique program now followed worldwide as a role model program. We will also be visiting the places like Markandeya Temple, Big Log of Ballarpur & Tomb of Gond Kings in Chandrapur.

SEARCH (Shodhgram) – Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health is a non-government founded in 1985 by a doctor couple, Mr. & Mrs. Bang.

Dr. Abhay  and Dr. Rani Bang are Indian social activists, researchers working in the field of community health. They have revolutionized healthcare for the poorest people in India and have overseen a program that has substantially reduced infant mortality rates in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the world. Their Home Based Neonatal Care program is adopted Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and parts of Africa.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Saturday

• Arrival at Nagpur Railway Station at 09:30 am.
• Mumbai people can opt for Vidarbha Express / Duranto Express
• Mumbai people can also opt for Sewagram Express. The pickup will be from Warora.
• Pune People can opt for Garib Rath Express or Buses.
• Breakfast & Start our Journey to for Anandwan.
• Reach Anandwan. Check in & Lunch.
• Post Lunch visit various workshops.
• Samadhi Darshan of Baba Amte and Sadhana Amte in the evening
• Visit Dr. Vikas Amte (Depending upon the availability)
• Stay

Day 2 : Sunday

• Break Fast & Checkout
• Proceed towards SEARCH (Shodhgram)
• Check in. Visit project
• Meet Dr. Bang (Depending upon the availability)
• Dinner & Stay

Day 3 : Monday

• Breakfast & Checkout
• Proceed towards Hemalkasa
• Visit Markandeya Temple on the way
• Reach Hemalkasa in Afternoon
• Check in & Lunch
• Hemalkasa Prakalp Visit
• Triveni Sangam Visit
• Dinner & Stay

Day 4: Tuesday

• Hemalkasa Amte’s Animal Arc Visit
• Breakfast & Checkout
• Proceed towards Nagpur
• Visit Big Log, Tomb of Gond Kings on the way.
• Lunch Enroute
• Reach Nagpur by 06:00 pm
• Tour Concludes with Happy Memories.