A tribal hamlet’s tryst with AI-assisted tools

Located in the northeastern corner of Telangana, about 320 kilometers from the state’s capital Hyderabad, Limbuguda – a small hamlet of the particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district – is charting a new course for transformative change through the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

So how did this small village surrounded by hilly terrains in the heart of the Wankidi Manda tribe on the border with Maharashtra come to prominence? Limbugada received great acclaim for its Multi-Purpose Center (MPC) equipped with artificial intelligence-supported learning tools.

In July last year, MPC was set up in Limbuguda under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) scheme at an estimated cost of ₹ 60 lakh. AI-powered tools have been introduced at MPC to improve learning outcomes among PVTG children.

Meanwhile, the school dropout rate is high among PVTGs in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, whose population is estimated to be around 16,092.

Billed as the first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art center in PVTG living spaces, it houses an ANM center (a birthing center specializing in maternal and newborn care), an Anganwadi, a conference hall with a projector and a computer laboratory, among other facilities.

The center aims to provide education, health, nutrition and livelihood support all under one roof, while promoting holistic development of PVTGs through tribal empowerment and cultural revival.

Limbugada is one of 149 PVTG settlements in the tribal-dominated region. Kolams constitute the overwhelming majority of PVTGs in the combined Adilabad district. These are among the most marginalized and most socio-economically backward tribal communities. Limbugada was selected for the targeted welfare initiative under PM-JANMAN due to its geographical remoteness and other parameters.

The Cement Concrete (CC) road laid to connect MPC and running along an irrigation canal leads to Limbuguda, home to less than 40 families of the indigenous Kolam tribe. Standing in the middle of a remote hamlet surrounded by hills, the center acts as a beacon of hope for the local tribal population and plans are afoot to expand this technology-driven initiative to other PVTG hamlets in the region under the aegis of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) in Utnoor.

Kolam farmers in Limbuguda and surrounding tribal settlements rely on rain-fed agriculture and grow cotton mostly on black soil. In the off-season, they work in agricultural fields or have daily wage jobs.

“Around 29 MPCs have been approved for the district under the PM-JANMAN scheme. Various infrastructure and welfare measures, including roads, mobile health units, housing, electricity connections and mobile networks, have also been approved based on needs identified in a survey conducted last year.”Rama DeviDeputy Director (Tribal Welfare), Kumram Bheem Asifabad

Sitting in front of a row of mud and tiled houses adjoining the road next to MPC, Athram Jaithu proudly said that he had donated some of his small ancestral land for the centre, citing his belief that education alone could strengthen PVTGs.

“I have donated a piece of land for the Multi-Purpose Centre, in the hope that it will spread the light of education and improve the living conditions of our people,” said Jaithu happily. He is one of the few small Adivasi farmers who make a living from agriculture.

Fondly called ‘Devara’ by his villagers, Jaithu regretted not being able to provide higher education to his two children, who took up agriculture after completing SSC.

Another Kolam farmer, voicing similar concerns, attributed the low literacy level among Kolams to poverty, lack of connectivity and limited opportunities.

The establishment of MPC also paved the way for the CC road to Limbuguda. “Not a single person from Limbuguda and Bheemguda Kolam settlements has been able to find a government job so far,” he said, adding that Athram Anand Rao returned to farming after completing his B.Sc.

Children of the Kolam tribe, a particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), are at the Anganwadi center of the Multi-Purpose Centre, Limbuguda, a small tribal hamlet in Telangana’s Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. | Photo Credit: P. Sridhar

Two youngsters from Limbuguda – Athram Bheem Rao and Sidam Bheem Rao – are currently pursuing M.Pharm and B.Sc courses respectively. “I am determined to get a government job after graduation, preferably a uniformed service,” Sidam Bheem Rao said.

integrated approach

Giving detailed information about the functioning of the centre, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) official Utnoor said that MPC uses an integrated approach aimed at combating malnutrition and anemia among children and women of PVTGs while bridging the digital gap between urban and rural (tribal) areas through AI-enabled learning tools.

Meanwhile, Aniga, a local villager, praised the aesthetics of the centre, saying the impressive murals on the walls of the center highlight the tribal heritage and bravery of Adivasi warriors Kumram Bheem and his follower Kumram Suru.

On the change initiated by the center in the hamlet, Sidam Maru said that he has never touched a computer in his life, but proudly added that his daughter, a student of Tribal Welfare Primary School in Limbuguda, uses a computer at MPC in their home.

“The MPC initiative under the PM-JANMAN program is well-intentioned. Its success ultimately depends on effective and transparent implementation. True empowerment of PVTGs lies not only in infrastructure creation but also in sustainable investments in education and skill development that enable tribal communities to access welfare programs and become financially self-reliant.”Athram BheemraoPresident of Telangana PVTGs Association

Talking about the use of AI tools in teaching, educator Shivaraj said that tribal students of classes III, IV and V are using tools like Assisted Language Learning (ALL) and Assisted Mathematics Learning (AML) to improve their language and mathematics skills. VI, VII, VIII and IX. He stated that mathematics and physics concepts were explained to first grade students using Khan Academy’s technology-supported learning resources.

Meanwhile, describing the MPC initiative under the PM-JANMAN scheme as well-intentioned, State PVTGs Association president Athram Bheemrao emphasized that its success ultimately depends on effective and transparent implementation. He said true empowerment of PVTGs lies not only in infrastructure creation but also in sustained investments in education and skill development that enable tribal communities to access welfare programs and become financially self-sufficient.

He also called for complementary measures such as vocational training for Adivasi artisans to revive traditional livelihoods and the introduction of off-grid solar power projects in remote PVTG settlements located on forest edges.

Local voices echoed similar demands, pointing to permanent gaps. Jalapathi of Khirdi gram panchayat observed that most Kolams are multilingual, knowing Telugu, Marathi and Gondi besides their mother tongue Kolami. In his view, the MPC concept is well designed to provide students from PVTG communities with a nurturing environment that opens new windows to the outside world.

The center’s visibility also attracted the attention of policymakers. Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Institutional Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, who visited Limbuguda last year, reportedly appreciated the efforts of ITDA, Utnoor and described the facility as a “Lighthouse MPC”, a potential role model for tribal areas across the country.

Despite this recognition, connectivity remains a pressing concern. Residents of Limbuguda, Bheemguda and Khirdi highlight the lack of a regular bus service connecting their lives to the Wankidi mandal headquarters. They said improved transportation access will enable tribal children to benefit from MPC’s educational and digital learning facilities without difficulty.

Digital infrastructure is another area that needs attention. Villagers emphasized the need for reliable, high-speed internet in MPC to ensure the flawless functioning of AI-powered learning tools and online educational resources. They also hoped the center could host seminars and awareness programs to introduce tribal students to emerging technologies while promoting tribal arts and culture.

One young person pointed out the social difficulties that persist in remote areas. He added that superstitious practices, inadequate housing and limited livelihood opportunities continue to affect some segments of the PVTG population, highlighting the need for broader socio-economic interventions as well as technological initiatives.

cultural preservation

At the same time, cultural preservation remains at the center of local discourse. Gangu, an Adivasi artist from Tiryani, emphasized the importance of preserving traditional knowledge systems, especially indigenous understanding of medicinal plants and nutritional practices. He recalled that the tribal resistance against the Nizam’s regime was filled with stories of valor, including the role of the Kolam warrior Kumram Suru, a close friend of the legendary Kumram Bheem.

Giving an administrative perspective, Rama Devi, Deputy Director (Tribal Welfare), Kumram Bheem Asifabad, said: “29 MPCs have been sanctioned for the district under the PM-JANMAN scheme. Various infrastructure and welfare measures, including roads, mobile health units, housing, electricity connections and mobile networks, have also been approved as per the needs identified in a survey conducted last year.”

Limbuguda MPC forms part of a broader, multi-pronged strategy that aims to deliver health, nutrition and digital learning services under one roof, officials said. However, community leaders and youth representatives emphasized that such initiatives should be supported by targeted skill development programs to promote sustainable livelihoods and financial self-sufficiency among PVTG youth and women.