The Gujarat Vidyapith’s ‘gramjivan padyatra’ is set to become a mega affair after 17 years of its launch as students and staff members will spread out to nearly all 18,000 villages across the state, as against four, this year with a special theme — natural farming. The exercise will be preceded by a special training lecture by Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is also the Chancellor of the University.
The padyatra, which will be held after a gap of two years, is scheduled from October 21-26. It will be a combination of a road show as well as a foot march to different villages.
Since 2007, when the padyatra was launched, students and teachers had been visiting four villages in as many days to experience the rural life as well as to spread awareness towards literacy, de-addiction and cleanliness besides other principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad, which was established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, is known to follow Gandhian values till date. “The padyatra this year has been themed on natural farming, taking the message of swasthya, samruddhi and sanskar (health, prosperity and values) to the villagers. The planning for this visit as well as the community outreach programme has been done in such a way that nearly 1,800 people (1,600 students and 200 teaching and non-teaching staff) will cover around 18,000 villages,” Gujarat Vidyapith Vice-Chancellor Harshad Patel Said.
The organising committee stated that the 1,600 students have been divided into groups of 10 students with one teacher each who will cover the villages from 7 am to 7 pm. The roadshow accompanying the padyatra this year will also work as a branding and marketing campaign for Gujarat Vidyapith, they added.
This year, the students will not only impart theoretical knowledge on natural farming but also have hands-on experience, including lessons on making jeevamrut (natural fertiliser), said the organisers. “Before the padyatra, Governor Devvrat will hold a special lecture for all students and staff on Gandhi Jayanti. After this, all students and staff members will move to Randheja campus for practical training,” V-C Patel said.