It was a once in a lifetime experience for scores of Chenchus, who came to town in private buses on a sight-seeing tour, here on Monday.
An elderly Chenchu woman, Indla Mankamma, said that since her birth, she had never ventured out of her sleepy dwelling. On Monday, she came to Warangal to see the historic Fort, Thousand Pillar temple and go round the bustling town.
We have no reason to move out of our place. We hunt rats, weave baskets and move from place to place anyway. Only recently, we settled in a place near Regonda police station, she told The Hindu . Bhupalpalli MLA and Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary, moved by their way of life, had promised to take them to town. That is how they had all been able to make the visit.
Bandi Poshalu, who lives in the Chenchu colony in Chityal mandal, said that as their vocation had changed with changing times, they were now making a living as agricultural labourers.
The forest cover has come down and there are no more animals to hunt. We do hunt rodents in agricultural fields and earn some money but mostly, we work as labourers, he said.
These Chenchus settled in two colonies that recently came up at Chityal mandal and Regonda mandal. About 70 families were brought in six private school buses to Warangal and Hanamkonda towns by Mr. Madhusudhana Chary, to give them a feel of the urban area.
Some of the younger members of the community would often come to town but only to visit the Government Maternity Hospital in Hanamkonda.
Speaking to The Hindu , Bandi Chandramouli, 25, said he had come to the hospital when his wife delivered a baby one year ago.
It was a visit to remember for the Chenchus.
