CHILDREN OF THE FOREST (Chenchus)

January 2007
The Chenchus are one of the last remaining tribes in India. They live a hand-to-mouth existence in the forest but attempts to integrate them in society have failed. 
For centuries, the Chenchus have survived as hunter-gathers. They have no food preservation techniques and no interest in material wealth. But the Chenchus’ traditional forest homeland has recently been declared a tiger sanctuary. Attempts to turn the Chenchus into farmers failed. They refuse to leave their forest and are struggling to adapt to new lifestyles.