In the forested landscape of Yellapur in Uttara Kannada, Damami Eco-Tourism offers a powerful example of how public procurement can enable inclusive and sustainable development when communities are placed at the centre. Anchored by the Karnataka State Rural Livelihoods Mission, with technical support from National Rural Livelihoods Mission and Suyatri, the initiative brings together government departments, civil society, and local institutions to create dignified livelihoods for the Siddi community.
The programme is led by the Nisarga Sparsha Sanjeevini Self-Help Group under the NRLM Sanjeevini platform, working in convergence with MNREGA, the Karnataka Forest Department and the Horticulture Department. It currently serves 105 Siddi families across four villages in Yellapur Taluk, home to nearly 10,000 members of one of India’s most marginalised Afro-Indian tribal communities.
At the heart of Damami Eco-Tourism is a carefully curated visitor experience led by Siddi women. Guests participate in guided forest walks that interpret local ecology and medicinal plants, cook traditional millet-based meals, witness Siddi music and dance anchored by the iconic Damami drum, and visit farms practising climate-resilient agriculture. Some groups also host storytelling circles that reflect on migration, identity, and belonging.
The economic outcomes are tangible. Women managing homestays now earn around ₹600 per day during visitor stays, nearly double their earlier wages as farm labourers. More than 300 community members have benefited through roles in cooking, guiding, housekeeping, crafts, and logistics.
Beyond income, the initiative strengthens sustainable forest management, builds leadership among Siddi women, and restores pride in cultural heritage. As a community-owned public procurement model, Damami Eco-Tourism demonstrates how conservation, culture, and livelihoods can advance together for historically sidelined communities.
“For a long time, people only asked us where we came from. It never felt right. Today, through Damami, people come to our village to listen and learn. We earn with dignity, care for our forest, and share our culture with pride.”
Siddi woman SHG member, Yellapur
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