Khammam: Revenue, Housing, Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy on Sunday announced that 13,266 Indiramma houses would be sanctioned for Chenchu families across 21 assembly constituencies under the four Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) of Utnur, Bhadrachalam, Munnanur and Eturu Nagaram.
Ponguleti stated that the most backward Chenchu community had long been deprived of proper housing, and that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s Indiramma government would finally fulfil their dream of owning permanent homes.
The minister said Governor Jishnu Dev Varma had suggested constructing permanent houses in tribal areas on multiple occasions, and the Chief Minister had also guided the plan for improving living standards among tribal communities.
On Monday, Ponguleti said he would personally distribute sanction documents to beneficiaries along with local MLA Dr. Vamsi Krishna in Munnanur, Achampet constituency.
గవర్నర్ , సిఎం ఆలోచనలకు అనుగుణంగా చెంచులకు 13 వేల ఇందిరమ్మ ఇండ్లు
గిరిజన నియోజకవర్గాలకు అదనంగా 9 వేల ఇందిరమ్మ ఇండ్లు
రేపు మున్ననూర్లో మంజూరు పత్రాలు అందజేయనున్న మంత్రి పొంగులేటి శ్రీనివాస రెడ్డి
సమాజంలో అత్యంత వెనుకబడిన చెంచులు దశాబ్దాల పాటు సొంత ఇండ్లకు…
— Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy (@INC_Ponguleti) July 6, 2025
He observed that the Chenchus, who traditionally survive through hunting and gathering forest produce, have been confined to makeshift huts for decades, with no secure shelter. The State government, he said, would ensure these houses are built in the places where Chenchus currently live, recognising their settled forest-based livelihoods.
The ITDA Project Officer has been designated as the nodal officer to oversee the sanction and implementation of the housing programme. Ponguleti underlined that no previous government had even considered such a move for the Chenchus in decades. (NSS)