Aborigines’ agony: Chenchus caged in wild

​Nagarkurnool: The Chenchu tribes in Amrabad and Mannanur agency areas are facing hardship as restrictions are imposed on their movements. The Chenchu forest dwellers used to confine themselves to forests and depend on forest produce for their livelihood.

But times have changed, the Chenchu tribes people are trying to join the mainstream. The youth especially are coming out of the forest dwellings to secure good education. Hurdles are, however, are placed in the way of their efforts to join the mainstream of late in Nagarkurnool district.

Particularly the residents of forest areas like Mannanoor, Ambrabad are unable to come out of the forest area to pursue higher education and seek employment opportunities. The Forest Department has imposed restrictions on their movement.

The tribes cannot come out of the forest area without obtaining permission form the Forest officials.
Most of the Chenchu tribal people have been living in the tribal hamlets of Mallapur, Pullayipally, Appapur, Rampur, Bourmpur, Eerlapenta, Medipalkala and Sangidigundalu hamlets.

The Forest officials said the restrictions were imposed on the movement of the Chenchu tribes people to ensure that outsiders do not enter the forest. To keep a tab on the movement of Chencus, the Forest officials have been conducting checks at Farhabad check post.

Chirra Ramulu, District President of Chenchus Association, said, “For past few months the Forest Department officials are creating a lot of problems to us. They have become so indifferent towards the Chencus that they are not even allowing us to visit hospitals even in case of emergency too.”

Ironically, those, who are manning the check posts, too belong to the Chenchu tribe community. Even though they know the problems of Chenchus, they are acting indifferently.

Forest Range Officer of Mannanoor Range Sridevi said they had imposed restrictions of the movement of the Chenchus following the directions from higher officials in the Department. “It is true that we have imposed restrictions on the movement of the forest dwellers because we have been instructed by the higher authorities. The main aim is to stop the outsiders to venture into the forests and protect the wildlife,” said Sridevi.