Nandurbar District of Maharashtra, shares its jurisdictional boundary with Gujarat to its North-West and Madhya Pradesh to its North. Along with sharing the boundaries this district also shares the Satpuda Ranges with these states. 15% of the total area of Nandurbar District is urban, and rest comprises of rural and tribal parts. 62% of the total population is tribal, which comprises of Bhils, the Tadavis, the Kokanis, the Pawaras, and the Mavachis etc. Ethnically the Pawaras are believed to have migrated from Rajasthan and have settled in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranges of the Satpudas. The other tribals are supposed to inhabit at Nandurbar, Navapur, Akkalkua, Shahada, & Taloda Talukas, since the time of Mahabharata.
In 1997 The Govt. of Maharashtra has declared Nandurbar as a separate district, after which there has been a visible changes in various aspects. But these developments and upliftment is only for a particular class of the society. Tribals are left behind and are deprived from various basic facilities since long. The challenges of Livelihood, Education, and many other issues are common mainly due to deforestation and lack of availability of opportunities leads to migration in search of better living. Seasonal employment compels these Tribals to live the vagabond life, due to which the children are deprived of education.
In the year 1988, a Group of Individuals who where sensitive towards the challenges of these tribal's, and were focused to address the challenges through a holistic approach, initiated some facilitating steps towards them. Started with Basic education, and now covering almost all part of the life of these tribal's in collaboration with number of esteemed partners, skilled and committed resources.
In the year 1991 this group of individuals formally got registered with Indian laws in the name of "Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti". Samiti has the clear thought 'Nasti Seva Samo Dharma' which means, there is no Religion as Service to Mankind. 'Samiti' utilizes the Traditional Knowledge of the Tribal's, and Support them with the required Technical and scientific methodologies, so that the Tribal can be self reliant.
Over more than two Decades 'Samiti' had successfully executed various ventures covering all the aspects of tribal life and incubating the development in true sense.
Today 'Samiti' has own channel where in Technology is not only reached out to the end user, but also has an direct intervention in issues like Formal & Non Formal Education, Biodiversity, Natural Resources, Improving Agriculture, Food & Nutritional security.
"Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti" believes in Institutional way of development, also 'Samiti' plays a consultative role in initiatives of various agencies and bodies in Nandurbar District.