The Yenadi Today

by Isaiah Malcolm

For many generations, the Yenadis have inhabited Pulicat Lake and the surrounding area. Today, the majority of them are still found there. Though times have changed and India with them, the Yenadis are in some ways a time capsule of the lives they have lived for centuries. In other ways, Yenadis have been forced to adapt to drastic changes for better or for worse. The 2011 census of India reported over 500,000 Yenadis in the state of Andhra Pradesh. These Yenadis can be found anywhere from the coastline to agricultural regions, forests, and even in some industrial areas.

▲ Yenadi fishing boats and their homes on Pulicat Lake.

Changes to the Yenadis’ Livelihood

The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 included prohibitions on hunting certain wild animals and cultivating specified plants. Prior to that, the Yenadis relied on hunting for food and income. Similarly, local herbs were often sought out for nutrition, medicine, and livelihood. As a result, Yenadis had to seek out new sources of employment and provision.

A 2004 survey of the Nellore and Chittoor districts (Manoj 2014) revealed that 87% of the Yenadis were agricultural laborers, 5.3% were general laborers, 6.9% were scavengers, and 0.9% were small businesses employees. A similar study in the Guntur district (Vijayasree 2018) showed 21.6% of fathers and 21.2% of mothers working as agricultural laborers. In the Guntur district, the majority of the Yenadis were reported to work as scavengers and guides in fields and ponds (32.4% of fathers and 35.6% of mothers). 

Restoration Humanity’s target group falls in this category of scavengers. In addition, Yenadis are often daily wage workers. This means that they are paid on a day to day basis for work that is usually seasonal. Daily wage workers are not considered unemployed but rarely work in a capacity that provides enough to make ends meet.

▲ Yenadis scavenging at the dumping yard in Naidupet, Guntur.

After the 2004 tsunami destroyed a Yenadi village in Bapatla, Society for Integrated Rural Development (SFIRD) helped relocate them further inland where they would be protected from future catastrophe. SFIRD has also worked with this community to provide and implement new equipment. Many Yenadi fishermen now use motorized boats and modern fishing equipment like synthetic nets, lures, and traps. During seasons where fish are less plentiful, these Yenadis are often found setting up stalls to sell refreshments to tourists on the beach.

Today’s Challenges

The Yenadis face a wide array of challenges such as child marriage, limited accessibility due to rural conditions, and ostracization. In the Nellore and Chittoor districts, 38.1% of Yenadis were married under the age of 20 (Manoj 2014) – with many being well below the legal age of 21. A study on the marital practices of the Yenadi concluded that many of the Yenadis marry between the ages of 11 and 15 (Marella 2020). As discussed in previous articles, child marriage restricts the ability for children to continue and finish their education while often forcing them into a life that they are not prepared for.

▲ Comparison of the proportion of girls versus boys access to education, from UNESCO eAtlas of Gender Inequality in Education.

An estimated 85% of the Yenadis in Andhra Pradesh live in rural conditions. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Policy Brief 106-1, four of every five people below the international income poverty line lived in rural areas as of 2013. A major factor that contributes to this rural poverty is the lack of accessibility. Rural areas often come with a lack of access to healthcare, education, skills training, and many of the basic amenities that are easily taken for granted. 

According to the 2011 census of India, the Yenadis in rural areas had a literacy rate of 34% while those in urban areas had a literacy rate of 41%. These issues are often exacerbated for families of migrant laborers. These laborers and their children are often found traveling from one worksite to another. This lifestyle makes it difficult for children to attend school and for families to seek medical attention. 

In order to combat this issue, SFIRD is bringing education to those who can’t go to school. The Seasonal Worksite School (SWS) program establishes schools at migrant labor worksites so that children can receive an education without having to travel. These schools utilize textbooks from the state government of Andhra Pradesh, keep records of attendance, test the students on their knowledge and abilities, and ensure that they are able to read, write, and do arithmetic.  The circumstances may not look like the schools you and I are familiar with, but the children learn just the same.

▲ The new Child Care Center specifically for the Yenadis at the Dumping Yard being built.

▲ RH and SFIRD’s joint effort to bring education to the Yenadis at the dumping Yard. A “fit for purpose” childcare center is being built at the Dumping Yard that will implement the Seasonal Worksite School program. More details to follow over the next few weeks.

In the Guntur district, 250 Yenadis were asked why they did not utilize government services such as schools and hospitals (Vijayasree 2018). 96 people reported that they did so out of ignorance and 43 people reported that the distance was too great. However, the predominant reason was marginalization (as cited by 167 people). Many of the Yenadis have lived on the periphery of society for generations and as a result will not make use of government-provided utilities. 

A study on tribal development strategies (Rao 1998) has shown that marginalized tribal communities like the Yenadis face higher rates of nutrition deficiency, maternal and under-five mortality, and a high prevalence of diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. SFIRD and RH are committed to mitigating these issues by connecting Yenadis to local government and NGO resources that would be able to help meet their needs and ultimately find themselves integrated into their surrounding local communities.

▲ Monthly medical camps conducted by RH/SFIRD and Dr. Rama Rao give the Yenadis access to a doctor, supplements and any needed medical intervention.

Though these challenges may seem great, work is being done to help capacitate and empower the Yenadi people. Together, SFIRD and RH strive to address these challenges by helping Yenadis gain access to education, healthcare, and housing. With continued effort and dedication, we believe that a difference can be made in the lives of the Yenadis and the children to come.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. It always seems impossible until it's done. — Nelson Mandela 

Thank you for being a part of this inspiring journey!

If you would like to know more: more.info@rhlife.org

To donate to Restoration Humanity: www.rhlife.org/donate

References

Parliament of India. Wildlife Protection Act 1972

Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Census of India 2011

Manoj, D K. Demographic Characteristics of Yanadis in Nellore and Chittoor Districts of Rayalaseema, vol. 3, no. 23, Dec. 2014.

Menon, Suresh. (2018). The lifestyle of the Yanadi tribe and food habits in the socio-cultural and economic contexts. 

Marella, Guru Prasad. Marital Traditions And Customs, Among Yanadi In Nellore DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, vol. 9, no. 7, 2020..

“Reducing Poverty and Inequality in Rural Areas: Key to Inclusive Development | Division for Inclusive https://social.desa.un.org/publications/reducing-poverty-and-inequality-in-rural-areas-key-to-inclusive-development

Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.

K. Sujata Rao. “Health Care Services in Tribal Areas of Andhra Pradesh: A Public Policy Perspective.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 33, no. 9, 1998, pp. 481–86. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4406472. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.