Chenchu tribals' dream to own houses realised after five years of wait

Visakhapatnam: The dream of Chenchu tribals to own houses has turned into a reality with the completion of the government project and distribution of keys to them at Thatichetlapalem near the national highway.

Chenchus are a marginalized community living in the central parts of Andhra Pradesh.

A promise was made to them by the state government in 2018 to provide them with pucca houses.

The foundation for the constructions was laid under the aegis of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the YSR Urban Housing Scheme – with funds from the Centre and able support from the state government. The tribals received the keys to their new homes after five years.

This monumental achievement marked a turning point in the lives of these families.

A total of 280 houses were constructed under this government initiative. Among these, 80 houses were reserved for the Chenchu families. These families received the 1BHK houses free of cost.

For those aspiring for 2BHK homes, a nominal fee of '4.15 lakh had to be paid.

The newly-built houses in Thatichetlapalem are conveniently located near the highway and commercial centres.

Nallabothula Satish, secretary of the Chenchu tribals, told Deccan Chronicle, "Our journey has been packed with struggles. We lived in huts. After the change of government, we kept in touch with the collector and local MLA to pursue our dream. We are grateful to the government for keeping up this promise."

He added, "We would request the government to consider refunding the amount paid by those who opted for the 2BHK plots. Many families are currently bearing the burden of heavy interests. We also would like to have a healthcare centre in our vicinity."