Various welfare schemes introduced by forest authorities for the benefit of tribals in the Rampachodavaram Agency region in East Godavari have helped improve their standard of living. A section of tribal youth have even purchased two-wheelers with their earnings. Forest authorities have trained a number of tribal people, mainly youth, in various trades like stitching adda leaves, making bamboo furniture and incense sticks, preparing vermicompost and in the ecotourism project. They maintain that furniture made of bamboo, incense sticks and vermicompost are in great demand and products made by tribals are being sent to government establishments as well as to commercial centres. The Community-based Eco-Tourism Development Project which was started two years ago at Maredumilli Agency area in the district has become a major hit as a large number of people visit the various attractions arranged in the visit. A group of tribals who are members of the Vana Samrakshana Samiti are roped in from the three villages of Valumuru, Som-ireddypalem and Addala-varaveedhi in the project. They were trained in hospitality, preparing dishes popular in the Agency to serve visitors and serving as tourist guides into the forest, showing wildlife and other attractions. A large number of visitors make it a point to visit the eco-tourism project during their visit to the Agency and learn about wildlife and flora and fauna in the forests. Nearly 30 persons are dire-ctly involved in the project while several others perform a supportive role. Tribals got the forest guest houses which were in a dilapidated condition, renovated, and charge visitors, based on the comforts provided. As much as 50 per cent of the proceeds from the project are set aside to be used for developmental works in the future while the remaining 50 per cent is shared among the tribals. This has helped improve their sou-rces of earnings, and some of them now even own two-wheelers. District forest officer, Mr B. Ananda Mohan said, "Nearly 5,000 tribals are involved in several schemes in the Agency and their sources of earnings have increased tremendously resulting in impr-oved standard of living. The World Bank has appreciated the eco-tourism project in the district as it changed the lives of tribals."