Sun Sep 21 17:55:39 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**Tiruvannamalai, India – September 21, 2025:** In a move to boost the incomes of tribal communities, particularly women, the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding and the Vivekananda Trust, conducted a cookery skills training program in the remote hamlet of Athipet, Jawadhu Hills.

Around 100 tribal individuals, mostly women, participated in the day-long training held at a Forest Department building. The program focused on teaching them how to make mixed fruit jams, squashes, and juices using locally grown red tamarind, a plentiful resource in the area.

“Training helps us to make home-made cookery items to earn additional income apart from farming,” said S. Petchiammal, a tribal participant. “Free mixers were provided to us to make juices and squash individually in our houses for sale, using tamarind.”

The program aims to bridge the income gap during the tamarind off-season. Tribal women traditionally rely on the harvest for a significant portion of their annual income. By learning to process and sell tamarind-based products, they can generate revenue year-round.

Officials are also facilitating the sale of these homemade products through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in larger towns and plan to organize exhibitions and online promotions. Furthermore, tribals can process their tamarind for free at the Tamarind Processing Unit in Athipet village, with access to large jute mats for drying.

The initiative builds on existing efforts to support tribal communities’ livelihoods. Currently, they are permitted to farm on approximately 39,525 hectares of forest land and collect minor forest produce like Indian gooseberry, Haritaki, soapnut, tamarind, and honey. An estimated 200-300 tonnes of red tamarind are harvested annually in the region.

The Tribal Welfare Department hopes that this initiative will empower tribal women and strengthen the economic resilience of the communities residing in the Jawadhu Hills.

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