Bhubaneswar: In an effort to preserve and promote indigenous wisdom, a non-govt organisation, along with the National Consortium to Combat Malnutrition and 50 grassroots organisations, launched the Indigenous Yatra 2024, spanning 11 states across India.
The journey covers Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh — regions with significant tribal populations.
As part of the yatra, members of the organisations will meet officials to devise plans to launch schemes and programmes for development of tribals. The yatra aims to document and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of India’s indigenous communities.
Ruchi Kasyap of Atmashakti Trust, the NGO, said that this initiative serves as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern solutions. “We are creating a platform where traditional practices in health, nutrition and cultural resilience can be integrated with contemporary development approaches,” she added.
The yatra’s key objectives include developing a digital repository of indigenous traditions, promoting traditional dietary practices through health camps and advocating for inclusive policies. Special emphasis is being placed on sustainable agriculture and empowered governance through frameworks like the PESA Act.
International experts, researchers, policymakers and healthcare professionals are participating in this unique initiative, making it a global collaborative effort to preserve indigenous knowledge systems.
“The digital documentation of these practices will ensure that future generations have access to this invaluable knowledge. This is, in particular, an initiative aimed to celebrate the tribal culture,” Kasyap added.
The organisers are conducting hands-on training sessions in traditional food preparation and sustainable farming practices. Community leaders are being engaged to strengthen local governance systems and advocate for policies that integrate Indigenous knowledge into development strategies.