Karthumbi, a children’s association, is active in all the main tribal settlements in Kerala, including Attappady. Karthumbi imparts the newer generation the multifarious tribal streams of ancient art forms, traditional knowledge, and oral lores that face the threat of dissolving into oblivion. This enables the children to realize the deepness of their sociocultural heritage. More than 2000 tribal children are active participants in Karthumbi in Attappady alone. Karthumbi is actively engaged in around 60 tribal villages in Attappady. They meet once a week to discuss the issues they face. Prominent social and cultural figures from the state, academic and health experts, and headmen from other tribal areas often participate in Karthumbi camps. Apart from THAMPU volunteers, Karthumbi also has abundant support from the mothers’ group Taayaru Ottimai and tribal headmen. “Tree – A Boon,” an annual get-together of children, prepares them to be the wardens of environmental protection.

The plant nursery in Kallakkara on the banks of Siruvani river is an outcome of their efforts. Children plant saplings from the nursery in different tribal villages. The objective is to prevent drying up of Bhavani and Siruvani rivers, the prime sources of water for Attappady. Guidance of the Greenvein Foundation strengthens this mission. Lighting the torch of knowledge, Karthumbi is starting community libraries in the tribal villages of Attapppay, imbibing the dictum “letters, the weapons to avenge hunger.”