Limbuguda – a small village of a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district – tucked away in the northeastern corner of Telangana, some 320 kilometers from the state capital Hyderabad – is charting a new course for transformative change through the potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
But how did this small village, surrounded by hilly terrain in the tribal heartland of Wankidi mandal bordering Maharashtra, come to prominence? Limbuguda has earned wide acclaim for its prized possession – a Multi-Purpose Center (MPC), equipped with AI-enabled learning tools.
In July last year, an MPC was established in Limbuguda under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) program at an estimated cost of ₹60 lakh. Artificial intelligence tools were introduced at MPC to improve learning outcomes for children with PVTG.
Incidentally, the dropout rate is high among the PVTGs whose population is estimated to be around 16,092 in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.
Billed as a first-of-its-kind state-of-the-art center in PVTG housing, it houses an ANM (maternity center specializing in maternal and newborn care), Anganwadi, a conference hall with a projector and a computer lab, among others.
The aim of the center is to provide education, healthcare, nutrition and livelihood support – all under one roof – while supporting the holistic development of the PVTG with an emphasis on tribal empowerment and cultural revival.
Tribal students attending Assisted Mathematics Learning (AML) classes at the Multipurpose Center in Limbuguda, a tribal village, in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district of Telangana. | Photo credit: P. Sridhar
Limbuguda is one of the 149 PVTG settlements in the predominantly tribal-populated district. The Kolams form the vast majority of the PVTG in the combined district of Adilabad. They are among the most marginalized and socio-economically backward tribal communities. Limbuguda was selected for targeted social initiative under PM-JANMAN due to its geographical distance and other parameters.
A cement concrete (CC) concrete road that connects the MPC and runs alongside an irrigation canal leads to Limbuguda, home to less than 40 families of the Kolam tribal tribe. Set in the middle of a dark village, surrounded by hills, the center serves as a beacon of hope for the local tribal population and plans are afoot to expand this technology-driven initiative to other PVTG villages across the district under the auspices of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor.
Kolam farmers in Limbuguda and surrounding tribal settlements rely on rain-fed agriculture and mostly grow cotton in black soil. In the off-season, they work in agricultural fields or take up daily wage work.
“About 29 MPCs have been sanctioned for the district under the PM-JANMAN scheme. Several infrastructural and social measures – including roads, mobile medical units, housing, electricity connection and mobile networks – have also been sanctioned based on the needs identified during a survey conducted last year.”Rama DeviDeputy Director (Tribal Welfare), Kumram Bheem Asifabad
Athram Jaithu, sitting in front of a row of mud and cobbled houses bordering a lane next to the MPC, proudly said that he had donated a portion of his small ancestral land for the centre, rooted in his belief that education alone could strengthen the PVTG.
“I have donated the land for the multi-purpose 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 one of several small Adivasi farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
Affectionately 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 attributed similar concerns to poverty, lack of connectivity and limited opportunities.
The establishment of the MPC also paved the way for the CC road to Limbuguda. “Not a single person from Limbuguda and Bheemguda Kolam habitations has secured a government job yet,” he said, adding that one Athram Anand Rao returned to farming after completing his graduation in B.Sc.
Children of the Kolam tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG), at an Anganwadi center at a multi-purpose center in Limbuguda, a small tribal village, in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district of Telangana. | Photo credit: P. Sridhar
Two youngsters from Limbuguda – Athram Bheem Rao and Sidam Bheem Rao – are currently pursuing M.Pharm and Bc courses. “I am determined to secure a government job after graduation, preferably in the uniformed services,” said Sidam Bheem Rao.
An integrated approach
Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) official Utnoor, who handles the functioning of the centre, said the MPC is taking an integrated approach to address malnutrition and anemia among children and women of the PVTG while also bridging the digital divide between urban and rural (tribal) areas using AI-enabled learning tools.
Meanwhile, Aniga, a local villager, praised the aesthetics of the center and said the impressive murals on the walls of the center highlight the tribal heritage and valor of the Adivasi warriors – Kumram Bheem and his follower Kumram Suru.
On the change brought about by the center in the village, one Sidam Maru said that he had never touched a computer in his life, but added with pride that his daughter, a student of Tribal Welfare Primary School in Limbuguda, is handling a computer at the MPC right in their residence.
“The MPC initiative under the PM-JANMAN scheme is well-intentioned. Its success ultimately depends on effective and transparent implementation. True empowerment of the PVTG lies not only in the creation of infrastructure, but in sustained investment in education and skill development to enable tribal communities to access welfare systems and achieve financial self-sufficiency.”Athram BheemraoPresident Telangana PVTGs Association
Talking about the use of AI tools in teaching, instructor Shivaraj said that they are using tools like Assisted Language Learning (ALL) and Assisted Mathematical Learning (AML) to improve the language and math skills of tribal students of classes III, IV and V. For students of classes VI, VII, VIII and IX, the concepts of hetechena maths and physics resources are explained using Khanbled learning resources. he remarked.
Meanwhile, Athram Bheemrao, President, PVTG State Association termed the MPC’s initiative under the PM-JANMAN scheme as well-intentioned and stressed that its success ultimately depends on effective and transparent implementation. He said the real empowerment of the PVTG lies not only in creating infrastructure but in sustained investment in education and skill development to enable tribal communities to access social security schemes and achieve financial self-sufficiency.
He also called for complementary measures such as vocational training for Adivasi artisans to revive traditional livelihoods and introduction of off-grid solar power projects in remote PVTG habitations located on forest fringes.
Local voices echoed similar aspirations while pointing to persistent gaps. Jalapathi of Khirdi gram panchayat noted that most Kolams are multi-lingual and speak Telugu, Marathi and Gondi in addition to their mother tongue Kolami. In his view, the concept of MPC is well designed to provide students from PVTG communities with an educational environment that opens new windows to the outside world.
The visibility of the center also attracted the attention of politicians. Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra, who visited Limbugudu last year, reportedly praised the efforts of ITDA, Utnoor, describing the facility as an “MPC Beacon” – a potential role model for tribal regions across the country.
Despite this recognition, connectivity remains a pressing issue. Residents of Limbuguda, Bheemguda and Khirdi highlight the absence of regular bus services connecting their habitations to the Wankidi mandal headquarters. According to them, improved transport access would enable tribal children to use MPC’s educational and digital learning facilities without difficulty.
Digital infrastructure is another area requiring attention. The villagers emphasized the need for reliable high-speed internet at the MPC to ensure smooth functioning of AI-enabled learning tools and online learning resources. They also hoped that the center could host seminars and awareness programs that would introduce tribal students to emerging technologies while promoting tribal art and culture.
One young man noted the social problems that persist in remote regions. Superstitious practices, inadequate housing and limited livelihood options continue to affect sections of the PVTG population, highlighting the need for broader socio-economic interventions alongside technological initiatives, he added.
Preservation of culture
At the same time, the preservation of culture remains central to the local discourse. Gangu, an Adivasi artist from Tiryani, emphasized the importance of protecting traditional knowledge systems, especially indigenous understanding of medicinal plants and nutritional practices. He recalled that the tribal resistance against the Nizam’s regime is full of stories of valor, including the role of warrior Kolam Kumram Suru, a close associate of the legendary 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. Several infrastructural and social measures – including roads, mobile medical units, housing, electricity and mobile networks – have also been sanctioned based on the needs identified during a survey conducted last year.”
Officials said the Limbuguda MPC forms part of a broader multi-pronged strategy to provide healthcare, nutrition and digital education services under one roof. However, community leaders and youth representatives emphasized that these initiatives must be complemented by targeted skills development programs to promote sustainable livelihoods and financial self-sufficiency among PVTG youth and women.