Learning doesn’t always happen inside a lecture hall. Sometimes it means travelling to a district, sitting down with the people who live there and listening. That is what Dr. Rashmi Maurya, Assistant Professor at Hinduja College, did on a series of visits to Dahod in Gujarat, speaking with students, village representatives, Anganwadi workers and doctors.

Why Dahod

Dahod is a district in Gujarat that topped NITI Aayog’s first Delta Ranking of aspirational districts, a ranking that tracks incremental progress in areas such as health, education and development. The visit focused on awareness of “Viksit Bharat,” understanding issues at the grassroots level and exploring how collaboration could help find practical solutions.

A Lecture on Women’s Role at the ITI College

The first stop was an ITI college, where Dr. Maurya gave a guest lecture titled “Role of Women in Viksit Bharat.” She spoke about women’s participation in education, skill development and employment, and about the value of entrepreneurship and financial independence. The lecture also covered opportunities for women in technical and vocational fields, gender equality, and building confidence and leadership in young women. Students took part in a productive interaction afterward.

Speaking with Young People at Eklavya Model Residential School

At Eklavya Model Residential School, the focus shifted to young people. In a lecture on “Role of Youth in Viksit Bharat,” Dr. Maurya discussed education, skills and employability, along with innovation, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, environmental awareness and social responsibility. Students were encouraged to identify their own strengths, build suitable skills and contribute to their communities.

Listening to the Gram Panchayat

A meeting with Gram Panchayat members gave the visit a ground-level view. The discussion covered current development initiatives in the village, issues faced by residents, education and skill-development needs, health and sanitation, concerns of women and youth, infrastructure and future priorities. The aim was to understand the local situation and talk through practical, sustainable ideas.

An Anganwadi During Poshan Week

Dr. Maurya also visited an Anganwadi centre during the celebration week of Poshan Divas, meeting teachers, workers and parents. Conversations centred on children’s nutrition and healthy eating, growth and development, and the role parents play in health and education. Anganwadi staff shared their experiences, challenges and plans for activities with children and the community.

A Conversation with Primary Health Centre Doctors

The final meeting was with doctors associated with Primary Health Centres. They spoke about how PHCs function, the services they provide, the resources available and the challenges of delivering healthcare in rural areas. The doctors also shared their experiences serving the community and discussed ways primary healthcare could be improved.

What the Visit Offered

Taken together, the visits offered a broad look at how education, health, nutrition and local governance connect in a single district. For a college faculty member, it was also a chance to hear directly from students and community members, and to share ideas back.

From Campus to Community

Outreach like this reflects how Hinduja College sees learning: connected to real communities and real questions. We thank everyone in Dahod who took the time to talk and share their experiences.

Want to know more about what our faculty and students are doing? Visit Hinduja College to see what’s next.