A tribal settlement’s introduction to AI-enabled tools

Located in the north-eastern corner of Telangana, about 320 km from the state capital Hyderabad, Limbuguda – a small Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) village in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district – is paving a new path for transformational change through the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

But how did this small village surrounded by hilly terrain in the tribal area of ​​Wankiddy mandal bordering Maharashtra come into prominence? Limbuguda earned wide recognition for its prized asset – the Multipurpose Center (MPC), which is equipped with AI-assisted learning tools.

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

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

Established as the first state-of-the-art center of its kind in PVTG settlements, it has facilities including an ANM center (an obstetric center specializing in maternal and newborn care), an Anganwadi, a conference room with a projector and a computer lab, among other facilities.

The objective of the center is to provide education, health care, nutrition and livelihood support – all under one roof, with an emphasis on tribal empowerment and cultural revival as well as promoting the overall development of the PVTGs.

Limbuguda is one of the 149 PVTG settlements in the district with a predominantly tribal population. PVTGs have an overwhelming majority in Kollam in the combined Adilabad district. They are among the most marginalized and socio-economically backward tribal communities. Limbuguda was selected for targeted welfare initiatives under PM-Janman due to its geographical remoteness and other parameters.

A cement concrete (CC) road built to connect the MPC, running alongside an irrigation canal, leads to Limbuguda, where less than 40 families of the tribal Kolam tribe live. Located in the middle of an obscure village surrounded by hills, the center serves as a beacon of hope for the local tribal population and plans are being made to extend this tech-driven initiative to other PVTG villages across the district under the aegis of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor.

Kolam farmers in Limbuguda and surrounding tribal settlements depend on rain-fed agriculture and cultivate cotton mostly in black soil. During the off-season, they work in agricultural fields or as daily wage labourers.

Sitting in front of a row of mud and thatched houses adjacent to the lane next to the MPC, Athram Jaithu proudly said that he has donated a part of his small ancestral land for the Centre, believing that only education can empower the PVTG.

“I donated a piece of land for the multipurpose center with the hope that it will spread the light of education and improve the living conditions of our people,” Jaithu said with satisfaction. He is among the many small tribal farmers who depend on agriculture for livelihood.

Jaithu, fondly called ‘Devra’ by his villagers, regrets that he was not able to ensure higher education to his two children, who took up farming after completing their SSC.

Expressing similar concerns, another farmer from Kollam attributed poverty, lack of connectivity and poor literacy among Kollams to limited opportunities.

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

Two youths from Limbuguda – Athram Bhim Rao and Sidam Bhim Rao – are currently pursuing M.Pharma and B.Sc courses respectively. Sidam Bhim Rao said, “I am determined to get a government job, especially in a uniformed service, after graduation.”

integrated approach

Elaborating on the functioning of the centre, an official from the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor, said that the MPC is adopting an integrated approach that aims to tackle malnutrition and anemia among children and women of PVTGs by bridging the digital divide between urban and rural (tribal) areas through AI-assisted learning tools.

Meanwhile, Aniga, a local villager, praised the aesthetics of the center and said that the impressive murals on the walls of the center highlight the tribal heritage and the valor of tribal warriors – Kumram Bheem and his follower Kumram Suru.

On the changes being brought about by the Center in the village, Sidam Maru said he never touched a computer in his life, but said with pride that his daughter, a student of Tribal Welfare Primary School in Limbuguda, handles a computer in the MPC at their residence.

Speaking about the use of AI tools in teaching, instructor Shivraj said that they are using tools like Assistive Language Teaching (ALL) and Assistive Mathematics Teaching (AML) to enhance the language and mathematical skills of tribal students of classes III, IV and V. He said that for students of classes VI, VII, VIII and IX, the concepts of mathematics and physics are being explained by deploying tech-enabled learning resources of Khan Academy.

Meanwhile, terming the MPC initiative under the PM-Janman scheme as well-intentioned, state PVTG association president Athram Bhimrao stressed that its success ultimately depends on effective and transparent implementation. He said the real empowerment of PVTGs lies not just in building infrastructure but in sustained investment in education and skill development that enables tribal communities to access welfare schemes and achieve financial self-reliance.

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

Local voices echoed similar aspirations, pointing to the continuing gap. Jalpati of Khirdi Gram Panchayat observed that most of the Kolams are multilingual, knowing Telugu, Marathi and Gondi apart from their mother tongue, Kolami. In his view, the MPC concept is well designed to provide students from PVTG communities a nurturing environment that opens new windows to the outside world.

The visibility of the center has also caught the attention of policy makers. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra, who visited Limbuguda last year, had reportedly lauded 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 serious concern. Residents of Limbuguda, Bhimguda and Khirdi highlight the absence of regular bus service connecting their settlements to Wanakidi mandal headquarters. He said that better transport access will allow tribal children to access the educational and digital learning facilities of MPC without any difficulty.

Digital infrastructure is another area that needs attention. The villagers stressed the need for reliable high-speed internet in the MPC to ensure uninterrupted operation of AI-assisted learning tools and online educational resources. He also expressed hope that the Center can organize seminars and awareness programs to introduce tribal students to emerging technologies while promoting tribal art and culture.

One youth focused on the social challenges that persist in remote areas. He said superstitious practices, inadequate housing and limited livelihood opportunities are affecting sections of the PVTG population, highlighting the need for comprehensive socio-economic interventions along with technological initiatives.

cultural conservation

Additionally, cultural preservation remains a focus of local discussion. Gangu, a tribal artist from Tiryani, underlined the importance of protecting traditional knowledge systems, especially indigenous understanding of medicinal plants and nutritional practices. He reminded that the tribal resistance against Nizam rule is replete with stories of heroism, including the role of the Kolam warrior Kumram Suru, a close associate of the great Kumram Bheem.

Providing 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. A number of infrastructure and welfare measures have also been sanctioned, including roads, mobile medical units, housing, electricity connections and mobile networks based on the needs identified during a survey conducted last year.”

Officials said the Limbuguda MPC is part of a broader multidimensional strategy that aims to provide health care, nutrition and digital learning services under one roof. However, community leaders and youth representatives stressed that such initiatives should be complemented by targeted skills development programs to promote sustainable livelihoods and financial self-reliance among PVTG youth and women.