Economic Transformations in a Savara Village of Andhra Pradesh: Tamarind to Cashew

Abstract

Even tribal communities in India living in relative geographic isolation have experienced significant transformations during the last 70 years. Many studies have investigated the impact of tribal development programmes on the socio-economic conditions of different tribal communities. However, few attempts to systematically re-study the same tribal village after some decades have been made. This article re-examines the transformation of different sources of income for a Savara village in Andhra Pradesh and specifically scrutinises the impact of cashew plantations promoted in 1983–5. Since the acceptance to undertake cashew plantation was a precondition for the Savara of Manapuram to achieve economic and language integration, the question becomes what have been the results after some decades. The article identifies many consequences for this community, not just a shift from tamarind to cashew.