70 years ago, Girijan Co-operative Corporation (GCC) undertook the guardianship of the tribals (Girijans) of Andhra Pradesh. The vast forest expanse of 46.11 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh (AP) is home to around 2.8 million forest dwellers. The forests play a significant role in sustaining the livelihood of these people, especially the sale of forest produce (non-timber forest products), since agricultural activity by itself is not sufficient for sustenance, or as a source of livelihood.

GCC was instituted with the sole purpose to protect them from exploitative middlemen, petty traders and establish a mutually beneficial relationship between them and rest of the world.