Telangana government urged to stop 'unconstitutional' relocation of Chenchu tribes

By A Representative 

The Nallamalla forests are witnessing a renewed surge of indigenous resistance as the Chenchu adivasis, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), have formally launched the Chenchu Solidarity Forum (CSF) on the eve of World Earth Day to combat what they describe as unlawful and forced relocation from the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. 

In a series of high-level meetings and public demonstrations in Hyderabad this past week, community leaders and civil rights activists collectively asserted their legal and democratic habitat rights, demanding an immediate halt to the government’s relocation efforts. 

The escalating tension follows the issuance of relocation cheques in March 2026 by senior state ministers—a move the community claims was executed without the mandatory consultation or consent of the Gram Sabhas. 

During a significant round table consultation on April 17, members from villages including Sarlapally, Vatwarlapally, and Kollampenta testified that the Forest Department is using coercive tactics, such as filing fabricated criminal cases against youth leaders and withholding basic development loans, to pressure families into moving outside the protected Scheduled-V Area.

​The core of the dispute lies in the interpretation of the Forest Rights Act of 2006 and the Wildlife Protection Act. While state officials and some conservation groups argue for "inviolate" forest zones, the Chenchu people—historically recognized as ancient food gatherers with a profound knowledge of the ecosystem—advocate for a model of lawful co-existence. 

Activists, including veteran civil rights figure Prof. Haragopal and members of the CSF, argue that the current relocation package threatens to strip the Chenchus of their constitutional safeguards under the PESA and LARR Acts, potentially turning a self-sufficient community into landless wage laborers, as seen in previous displacements at the Kawal Tiger Reserve. 

The CSF has officially called for the Telangana government to declare the region a "Chenchu Conservation Bio-Region Reserve," emphasizing that indigenous stewardship is globally recognized as the most sustainable form of climate and wildlife protection.

​The community’s resolve was further highlighted during a "Prajavani" meeting with State Planning Board Vice-Chairman Mr. Chinna Reddy, who assured the adivasis that their rights would be protected and directed forest officials to comply strictly with the law. 

Despite these assurances, the Chenchu women and youth remain vigilant, testifying that non-local individuals are being used to simulate "voluntary consent" for relocation packages that do not reflect the will of the actual forest dwellers. 

The newly formed Solidarity Forum, an independent collective of citizens and activists, has submitted a comprehensive list of demands to the state government, insisting on the transparent publication of scientific studies regarding wildlife damage, the recognition of pending community forest rights, and the immediate withdrawal of all intimidation tactics. 

As the struggle intensifies, the Chenchu people maintain that the forest which has sustained their ancestors for generations remains their only viable home, rejecting monetary compensation in favor of their ancestral heritage.