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Chenchu children turn a new leaf
For years the Chenchus, a primitive tribal group inhabiting the catchment area of Krishna River faced a paradox. The Ashram and Gurukul schools, abounding in their region were not incentives enough to send their wards to pick up education.
** Against all odds, Chenchus are determined to support their children education till they become employable
** The children are eager to learn new things at school
** The Chenchu children want to teach in their own habitations after they grow up, as they know the difficulties of school-going children there better than others
Rajahmundry: For years the Chenchus, a primitive tribal group inhabiting the catchment area of Krishna River faced a paradox. The Ashram and Gurukul schools, abounding in their region were not incentives enough to send their wards to pick up education.
There was no monitoring whatsoever either by Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) or Tribal Welfare Department who turned a blind eye to the abysmal literacy rate among this tribe.
A year-and-half later, the situation appears to be changing, as many Chenchu children are going to school. Chenchu children have regained interest in studies. The achievement acquires significance given the social and financial background of these children. Some of these children did not even see the district headquarters or any big town in their life and never heard of a train journey.
The population of Chenchus is high in areas like Dornala, Yerragonga Palem and Pulla Cheruvu in Prakasam district, Allagadda, Atmakuru and Mahanandi in Kurnool district and Macharla and Veldurthi mandals in Guntur district. They worship Lord Siva and offer prayers to Srisailam Mallanna. The Chenchus have unique food habits, customs, etc. They follow a simple lifestyle, disturbing the environment least.
The Chenchus are very poor, discriminated and denied opportunities. They neither hold land nor any property and most of them work as agriculture labourers. Against all such odds, they are determined to support their children education till they become employable. Gone are the days, when the children of Chenchu fear to go to schools and drop out in the middle of the academic year unable to cope with the tough syllabus, now they are eager to learn new things at school.
The Chenchu children were passionate to pursue courses like medicine, engineering etc. They want to teach in their own habitations after they grow up, as they know the difficulties of school-going children there better than others. The living condition of Chenchus has improved over the years.
Kudumula Venkatayya, an artiste from Balutla Gudem of Prakasam district, said, “Chenchus want to come up in life. They have realised the need for educating their children to find a permanent solution to poverty.” He said with the support and inspiration given by the government, Chenchu children have achieved what most only dream of. He said that the feats of Chenchu children show how these deprived children can excel given an opportunity. He said the government too is motivating Chenchu children to excel in studies. We have an ITDA project Officer from our community, he added.
Samson Raj
