CHENCHU women lead change in Nallamala with Nannari cultivation

Traditionally dependent on forest produce, the tribal women formed SHGs with ITDA's support, extracting and selling Nannari juice for ₹130-₹200 per litre

- K MADHU SUDHAKAR @Kurnool

Deep within the remote corners of the Nallamala forest, the Chenchu women, a tribal community long accustomed to living in isolation, are scripting a remarkable story of self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

From struggling to make ends meet to becoming role models for their community, these women have transformed their lives by cultivating Nannari (Indian Sarsaparilla) and producing a medicinal juice that is now a profitable venture.

Spread across the Srisailam Project limits in Nandyal, Prakasam, and Palnadu districts, the Chenchu women reside in 188 Gudems (tribal hamlets), including 48 in Nandyal, 51 in Palnadu, and 89 in Prakasam.