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People group profile · PG041918

The Chenchu of India

The Chenchu of India, numbering about 74,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Telugu-speaking Scheduled Tribe of Andhra Pradesh whose name is said to derive from chettu, "tree," reflecting their forest life. They traditionally gathered honey and tubers, and many now work in agriculture.

They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Tribal people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Chenchu.

Pray for the ChenchuPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Chenchu people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Chenchu

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
74,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
South Asian Tribal
Primary language
Chenchu (cde)
Primary religion
Folk Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC ?
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Marginally Reached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
Andhra Pradesh: Mahbubnagar, Prakasam, Kurnool, and Guntur districts; also Karnataka, Odisha

Where they live

Gospel status

The Chenchu are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Chenchu

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Folk Hinduism · Hinduism

93% adherents

Primary language

Chenchu · Dravidian family

100% speak Chenchu

Gospel resources in Chenchu

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Chenchu

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

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