Rural Immersion Program of BSSS Department of Social Work Concludes Successfully

The Department of Social Work, The Bhopal School of Social Sciences (BSSS), successfully concluded its five-day Rural Immersion Program for BSW and MSW students in Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh. The program aimed to provide practical exposure to rural development, sustainable agriculture, community participation, and grassroots governance.

The immersion began on 16 February with travel from Bhopal to Khargone via Indore, followed by an orientation session at bioRe Association. Students were introduced to sustainable rural development initiatives and farmer welfare models. They also visited Sahasradhara on the sacred Narmada River near Maheshwar, connecting cultural heritage with field learning.

On subsequent days, students engaged in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), resource mapping, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), surveys, and street plays in villages including Chichlaya, Dogawa, Mandleshwar, Navalpura, and Ojhara. They actively interacted with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), women entrepreneurs, Panchayat representatives, and rural communities.

The visit to the Community Agri Input Centre of Remei India at Kasrawad provided insights into eco-friendly farming practices such as Biochar, PROM, Vermicomposting, and Cow Pat Pit methods. Students also visited the Animation School and Public School to understand skill-based and creative rural education initiatives.

Healthcare exposure was provided through a visit to MHU Mandleshwar (Sanjeevani Seva), where students observed rural healthcare delivery systems. The program also included a session at the Agnihotra Homa Therapy Center, where students interacted with international researcher Ulrich Berk and Center Head Shri Sarabjeet Paranjape, learning about environmental sustainability and alternative healing systems.

The camp concluded with student presentations summarizing field observations and learning outcomes, followed by certificate distribution and a formal Vote of Thanks.

The Rural Immersion Program was successfully coordinated under the guidance of Mr. Ram Vishwakarma (Tour Coordinator), Ms. Aakanksha Yadav (Faculty), and Mr. Atul Vishwakarma (Field Work Coordinator, Department of Social Work, BSSS).

The department expressed sincere gratitude to bioRe Association, Dr. S.R. Vishwakarma (Founding Member), CCO Mr. Ashish Joshi, and the entire team for their support in making the program successful.

The initiative proved to be a transformative academic experience, strengthening students’ understanding of sustainable development, community engagement, rural governance, and empowerment practices.

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