Thampu (A National Trust for Tribal education, Development and Research) is a shelter home especially for the rights of the tribal in Attappadi and today Thampu has an active participation in other regions of tribal presence like, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasargod and Malappuram etc. We gratefully remember the late Hon. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer who inspired and guided us in this effort of establishing Thampu. It was in the 1990s that THAMPU commenced its activities. However, it was formed into an organization only in 2002. Thampu has its publication named Gothrabhoomi which depicts the life of tribal to the external world. THAMPU has been an active presence in the tribal villages since then. Studies reveal there has been a substantial increase in the number of tribal votes polled in the 2011 (assembly) and 2015 (local bodies) elections. THAMPU has been instrumental in stimulating and augmenting the involvement of the tribal population in the democratic process.

THAMPU is presided by Sri. Rajendraprasad, who is an adivasi activist, writer, and the editor of Gothrabhoomi magazine. Manesh N. Krishna is the secretary. The seven member leadership team of THAMPU includes well-known tribal activists K.A. Ramu and Vasantha Krishnan. The advisory council consists of experts in social, cultural, and legal domains including P.V. Rajagopal, prominent Gandhian and member of National Council for Land Reforms. Even though it was not formally registered until 2002, THAMPU has been actively working among the tribals for the last 30 years.