Adilabad, Oct. 17 -- In a pioneering effort to restore livelihoods and combat environmental degradation, the Green India Challenge (GIC), a nationwide environmental movement founded by former Rajya Sabha MP Joginpally Santosh Kumar, has launched a pilot bamboo plantation project spanning 5 acres in Mullalagutta 2 village, Adilabad Rural Mandal, Adilabad district.

This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to address the acute bamboo shortage faced by the Kolam (Kollam) tribes, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Telangana, whose traditional livelihoods and craftsmanship rely heavily on bamboo.

For generations, the Kolam community has skillfully used bamboo to craft mats, baskets, fences, and ritual items--products that are inte...