Health inequalities in India are significant challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aspires to achieve healthy lives and well-being for everyone at all ages. Marginalised communities living in remote and tribal areas are disproportionately affected by systemic barriers and socio-economic disparities. This article draws on first-hand reflections and experiences from PhD fieldwork conducted in last-mile areas, exploring the strategic and operational challenges of conducting research in tribal geographies. The study highlights key themes, challenges and mitigation strategies by employing community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework. It emphasises the role of local partnerships and adaptive strategies in crossing these challenges to ensure meaningful conversation with tribal populations. The article also examines the implications of health inequalities through the lens of management education and practice. It calls for businesses, NGOs and policymakers to adopt an integrated approach combining field-level insights with scalable interventions to bridge health disparities. Furthermore, it calls for a paradigm shift in management education pedagogy, emphasising ethical awareness, cultural sensitivity and community engagement to prepare future leaders for addressing health inequities. This study contributes to the discourse on bridging health inequalities in underserved regions by integrating insights from field research, management education and collaborative frameworks.
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