How a barefoot tribal kids’ request turned into a 'Sole of Soul' movement for shoes in Madhya Pradesh

Tribal children living in hostels in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district have asked for something basic, a pair of shoes so they can play outdoors during the monsoon. Their request has now led the district administration to start the “Sole of Soul” campaign, which aims to provide footwear to children staying in all 144 hostels across the tribal-dominated district.

The initiative began after Dindori collector Anju Pawan Bhadoria visited a school in Amarpur on August 7. She noticed that the children were not playing on the hostel grounds despite wanting to take part in games and football. The children told her they did not have shoes and asked if someone could buy them. “For children, childhood is incomplete without play,” Bhadoria said.

Lack of footwear kept children indoors

The monsoon had made the hostel playgrounds wet and muddy. Without shoes, children faced the risk of walking barefoot through wet ground, where insects and reptiles could also be present.


The children did not raise complaints about their food, classrooms or other facilities. Their main request was for footwear that would allow them to play safely outside.

Bhadoria later found that the issue was not limited to the children at the Amarpur school. A large number of tribal students living in hostels across the district did not have shoes.

Officials pool money to begin campaign

The administration did not have separate government funds available for the initiative. Officials therefore contributed money personally to get the campaign started.

Around 200 students received footwear on August 29.

The administration now plans to extend the campaign to more hostels across Dindori. The next programme will be held at a girls’ hostel in Shahpura.

Banks and CSR partners may join initiative

The district administration is also looking to involve banks and corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners in the campaign.

The aim is to provide footwear to children living in all 144 hostels in the district. What began as a request from children at one hostel has therefore turned into a wider effort to help tribal students take part in outdoor games without having to worry about walking barefoot on wet ground.