In News:

In May 2025, the Telangana government announced the sanctioning of 10,000 Indiramma houses to Chenchu tribal families under a saturation approach in four Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDA)—Utnur, Bhadrachalam, Munnanur, and EturuNagaram. An additional 700 units per ST assembly constituency have also been approved within these ITDA areas.This move aligns with the state’s commitment to improving housing infrastructure in tribal areas.

About Chenchu Tribe

Classification:

• Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Andhra Pradesh
• Also found in Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha

Habitat:

• Primarily inhabit the Nallamalai forests (Eastern Ghats)
• Chenchu settlements are called “Penta”, consisting of kin-based scattered huts

Language:

• Native Chenchu language (Dravidian family)
• Many also speak Telugu

Social Structure:

• Small conjugal families with gender equality
• Village elder, known as “Peddamanishi”, serves as the community authority

Livelihood:

• Forest-based subsistence lifestyle
• Depend on collection of non-timber forest produce (NTFPs) such as:
  • Roots, tubers, fruits, beedi leaves, honey, gum, mohua flowers, tamarind
• Some serve as forest laborers, but mostly rely on traditional hunting and gathering

Religion & Culture:

• Worship local deities; blend of indigenous and Hindu practices
• Hold deep spiritual ties with the Srisailam Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva and Devi Brahmaramba), which lies at the heart of their region
• Chenchus enjoy customary privileges at the Srisailam shrine

Why is it in the News?

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, being the Nodal Department for the welfare of senior citizens, develops and implements programmes and policies for these groups in close collaboration with State Governments, Non-Governmental Organisations and civil society.

About the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY):

• It is a Central Sector Scheme to improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens.
• The project is implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Aims and Objectives:

• The main objective of the Scheme is to improve the quality of life of Senior Citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing through providing support for capacity building of State/ UT Governments/Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)/Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) / local bodies and the community at large.

The components of the AVYAY Scheme are as under:-

• • Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)
  • State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)
  • Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
  • Elderline – National Helpline for Senior Citizens
  • Senior-care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE)
  • Geriatric Caregivers Training

Components of the AVYAY Scheme:

• Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC): Grant aid is provided to Non-Governmental/ Voluntary Organizations for running and maintenance of Senior Citizens' Homes (old age homes), continuous care homes, etc.
  • Facilities like shelter, nutrition, medicare and entertainment are provided free of cost to indigent senior citizens.
• State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC): Grant in aid is released to States/ UTs for the creation of a pool of trained Geriatric Caregivers for senior citizens, for carrying a special drive for Cataract Surgeries for Senior Citizens and State Specific Activities for the welfare of senior citizens, especially who are indigent in the States/UTs.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): To provide for senior citizens, suffering from any age-related disability/infirmity such as low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and loco-motor disabilities.
  • The eligible senior citizens under this component are those who are in the BPL Category or have monthly income up to Rs.15000/.
  • Generic and non-generic devices are distributed to the senior citizens through the camps.
• Elderline: National Helpline for Senior Citizens (14567): The Ministry has set up the National Helpline for Senior Citizens to provide free information, Guidance, Emotional Support and field intervention in cases of abuse and rescues.
• Senior-care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE): To promote out-of-the-box and innovative solutions for commonly faced problems, innovative start-ups are identified and encouraged to develop products, processes and services for the welfare of the elderly under this initiative.
  • The initiative is implemented through IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd. (Investment Manager).
• Geriatric Caregivers Training: To bridge the gap in supply and increasing demand in the field of geriatric caregivers and also to create a cadre of professional caregivers in the field of geriatrics.
  • The component is implemented through the National Institute of Social Defence and at present 3,180 geriatric caregivers have been trained.