Journey into Innovative Community Development Iowa State University CD Newsletter, June 2007 issue Dr. Anil Gupta, founder of the Society for Research Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI), asks: “Are poor people so poor that they cannot even think? Deprived of sufficient access to natural resources and economic means of livelihood, many disadvantaged communities have no choice but to innovate in order just to survive.” (Gupta, 1989) For the last 18 years, members of the Honeybee Network and SRISTI have been traveling throughout rural India searching for, documenting, and promoting innovations by farmers, artisans, women, healers, tradition bearers, and entrepreneurs at the grassroots level. Business incubator support and technological licensing help developed these innovations to generate financial benefits for the innovators and villages, establishing a model of poverty alleviation based on local ingenuity. SRISTI’s semi-annual Shodh Yatras – walking journeys of exploration and seeking through rural India – are opportunities to participate in this process and learn from the people. My purpose in writing this article is to propose that 1) our Community Development program participate in a Shodh Yatra as for-credit class and 2) that we develop a similar approach in our own community development practices. A third idea is to invite Dr. Gupta to be a guest professor for a class in our program. (See his bio at http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/~anilg/). Whether we work with rural or urban communities, the SRISTI approach of searching for innovations within the community is the one most likely to bring about positive change. Following is a short description of SRISTI and the Shodh Yatras, with links to additional information. I hope this article will generate interest from students and professors to participate in a Shodh Yatra this Winter or next summer, as well as a group willing to try this approach in our own communities. Based on the assumption that creativity and innovation are flourishing in communities that need it most, SRISTI and its Honey Bee Network began organizing Shodh Yatras through rural Indian villages. These walking journeys of exploration take place twice a year, usually in December- January and again in June-July. Over seven to eight days, 70 to 125 yatris walk approximately 100 miles visiting from 12 to 30 villages in rural India, searching for knowledge and creativity, interviewing local innovators, and identifying biodiversity practices. The journey is in a different region each year and is organized by local groups. There is no cost to participate, but each person provides for his/her expenses, travel, bedding, and so forth. The Shodh Yatra visits areas with few roads or transportation services, where villages are connected primarily by footpaths. Reports from previous Shodh Yatras are at http://www.sristi.org/cms/shodh_yatra1. SRISTI’s work lead to establishing the National Innovation Foundation (NFI) in 2000 to provide institutional support for scaling up grassroots green innovations and helping their transition to self supporting activities to make India truly self-reliant and a leader in sustainable technologies.