Bamboo Project for Kolam Tribe, Adilabad

• Event: Launch of a pilot Bamboo Plantation Project under the Green India Challenge (GIC)
• Date: October 21, 2025
• Location: Mullagutta 2 village, Adilabad district, Telangana

Key Highlights

• The project aims to support the Kolam tribal community , a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) .

• Focuses on restoring livelihoods , reviving traditional bamboo crafts , and combating environmental degradation .

• Covers 5 acres of land donated by local philanthropist Tekam Rao Ji Patel .

• Part of the Green India Challenge , a nationwide initiative promoting afforestation and sustainable practices to fight climate change.

About the Kolam Tribe

• Region: Found in Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.

• Language: Speak Kolami (Dravidian language, no written script); many also know Marathi or Telugu .

• Society: Patrilineal and organized into clans like Chal Deve, Pach Deve, and Sat Deve.

• Livelihoods: Agriculture, animal rearing, fishing, and forest labor.

• Culture: Culturally linked to the Gond tribe ; trace descent from Bhima and Hidimbi (Mahabharata).

• Tradition: Practice levirate marriage (widow marries husband’s brother).

• Government Support: Receives welfare benefits for education, health, and infrastructure.

Significance

• Promotes eco-restoration and economic self-reliance among the Kolam community.

• Strengthens tribal livelihoods through sustainable bamboo cultivation.

• Supports India’s broader Green India Challenge goals of community-driven environmental conservation.