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CHAPTER- VII

TRIBAL HEALTH STATUS AND POVERTY

INTRODUCTION

For the measurement of poverty it is necessary to understand the

concept of poverty. Poverty may be absolute or relative deprivation of

well-being of a section of population. The concept of well-being is

multidimensional. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the measurement

of Poverty. Poverty means not only material deprivation, which is

measured by income or consumption, but it can also be measured in

terms of low achievements in education and health. It means to be poor

to be hungry, and to lack shelter and clothing, to be sick and not cared,

for to be illiterate and not schooled. According to Sen (1996), Poverty is

not a matter of low well-being but of the inability to pursue well-being,

but of the inability to pursue well-being Poverty is failure of

capabilities.

Poverty is defined as the inability of an individual to secure a

normative minimum level of living. Even Dandekar and Rath (1971)

with reference to a calorie norm of 2250 calories per capita per day

arrived at the same poverty line (Rs 15 for rural India during that

time).

The planning commission’s task force defined the poor as “those

whose per capita consumption lies below the mid point of monthly per

capita expenditure class having a daily calorie in take of 2400 in rural

areas and 2100 calories in urban areas.

Poverty can be defined as social phenomena in which a section of

the society is unable to fulfil their basic needs of life. When a

substantial segment of a society is deprived a minimum level of living

condition of substance level, that society is said to be plagued with

mass poverty (Dutt and Sudershan, 1982). The term ‘poverty’ is

synonymous with a shortage of income and food. But the development

148

literature stresses the multidimensional of poverty. In addition to

material consumption, health, education, social life, environmental

quality, etc. all matter and having high correlation between income and

other measures of well-being, such as health and education status

(White, 2008, p.25). Absolute poverty is measured against some bench

mark-such as the cost of getting enough food to eat or can being able to

read and write. Relative poverty is measured against social standards;

in developing countries the basket of ‘essentials’ comprise food and a

few items of clothing, whereas in developed countries it includes

Christmas presents and going out once a month (White, 2008, p.25).

In India the SC and ST are such communities which are deemed

as downtrodden communities, they not only in economic terms but also

socially occupy the bottom position. In this section the focus is made

mainly on the tribals, the case is in hand. The tribals are generally

stricken with absolute poverty, not only in the economically and

backward state but also in the advanced state like Maharashtra, which

is most industrialized and urbanized state in the country. It is

astonishing to note that the tribals lagging much behind the non-

tribals in terms of their poverty and overall health status. In 1983-84

the planning commission computed the poverty at 37.4 per cent and

29.9 per cent in 1987-88 for the total population in the country. The

poverty among the tribals in 1983-84 was 58.4 per cent in rural areas

where 94 per cent of them have been living and about 40 per cent

among the urban population, which clearly indicated that their was a

mass poverty among the tribals and their position at present has not

improved much since they are exposed to exploitation and have been

alienated from forest and land economy (Hasnain, 1991). The

persistence of their mass poverty is due to marginalization of the bulk

of the tribal communities in context with the national level

development planning. In short, we can say that they have lost their

traditional life and access to forests and its produce. They have lost

149

their lands to the non-tribals and entailed them to shift to the poor

lands. This is what actually since long the process of marginalization of

tribals has been continued as their resources are being exploited by the

non-tribals.

TRIBAL POVERTY IN THE CASE STUDY VILLAGES

To compute the poverty among tribals the data have been

generated by conducting sample studies in 14 tribal villages. In this

study it is considered that any family with an average of four members

and annual income below 20,000/- or below 5000/- per member of the

family is deemed to be below poverty line (BPL) and those who are

having income above Rs 20,000/- are considered as above poverty line

(APL) as per the tahsildar office (Nashik district). Apart from the per

capita income, another criterion like nutrition, housing and access to

education can also be used for this purpose (Ramotra, 2008). Dandekar

and Rath have also estimated the value of the diet with 2250 calories

as the desired minimum level of nutrition (Dandekar and Rath, 1971).

As mentioned above, the tribal poverty in 1983-84 was at 58.4

per cent mainly in the tribal areas, now it is found that much difference

has not been made in the reduction of their poverty. It is because of the

fact that, as more than 51 per cent tribals in the tribal pockets were

still below poverty line (in 2006-10) as per the field survey in 14 sample

villages in state. The average Bellow Poverty Line households are more

than 70 percent (72.75%) in case study villages. The maximum BPL

found in the village of Borvan (92.60%) and minimum in Bhanwad

(59.61%) village in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district, although the

distance between these villages is about 10 km, but difference is village

Borvan is located at par of mountain where communication meanse are

dissapere and Bhanwad is on plain, having good road network. More

than average BPL house holds are, identified with below poverty line,

which are stricken with absolute poverty. Almost all the households

150

were indicating their poverty from the outside structure of the house

and in view of assets from inside. Not only this, there are some other

villages where the poverty was high, these are Borvan (92.66%) in

Dindori tahsil of Nashik district, Karamba (91.60%), Sulyachapada

(74.07%), in Jawhar tahsil, Ghatkarpada (74.07%), and Koch (73.52%)

in Mokhada tahsil of Thane district, Kankala (73.24%), Itwai (72.88%)

in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district, more than 70 per cent

tribals were stricken with poverty. In all there are seven villages

ranged between above 70 and 93 per cent below poverty line. Some of

the other villages like Pophsi (68.42%) Bhatode (68.18%), Chandikapur

(68.11%), and Bhanwad (59.61%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district,

Pohara (68.69%), Kakarpada (65.43%) in Akkaklkuwa tahsil of

Nandurbar district. The study investigated that out of 14 sample

villages in 7 villages (i.e. 50% of villages) less than 60 per cent to more

than 68 per cent tribals were below poverty line. It explicitly shows

that in majority of villages’ majority of tribals are stricken with

poverty. This micro level analysis based on the data generated from

the tribal villages has proved with evidences that the tribal living

condition needs to be addressed with a planning to raise their economic

status otherwise their accessibility to other resources, which are

essential for improvement can not be possible.

It is important to note that villages like, Bhanwad (40%), Phopsi

(37.57%), Kakarpada (34.57%), Nyahale (32.00%), Bhatode (31.2%) and

Pohara (31.31%), which are mostly economically well. It was noticed

during survey regarding their improvement in economic status

especially in Bhanwad and Kakarpada, where some tribal households

have taken loan for household dairy farming from SBI (State Bank of

India) with 30 per cent subsidy. Whatever the milk, they have is almost

sold out so that they can earn maximum income. In addition to that

remaining other villages showing their economic development except

Borvan (7.4%), and Karamba (8.33%), this is due to the fact tahsil

151

administrater shown improvement in accessibility to transport,

irrigation, communication, literacy, education, electricity, etc. All these

factors have worked to raise their overall status comparatively better

than other tribal villages in this aspect.

Recently the planning commission on in its own estimated the

poverty at 27.5 per cent. It has shown that the poverty in India has

come down from 35.79 per cent in 1993-94 to 27.54 per cent in 2004-05.

It is further mentioned that the Orissa and Bihar are the worst where

57.2 per cent and 54.4 per cent respectively people are is stricken with

poverty. The World Bank’s Report has shown 41.6 per cent population

in India live on less than $1.25 a day as per the international poverty

line. Tendolkar’s report concludes that 41.8 per cent of the rural

population spent a major amount 447/- a month on essential necessities

like food, fuel, light, clothing and food. It means that the condition of

tribals in north-western part of Maharashtra is not better than Orissa

and Bihar in terms of poverty status (TOI, Dec 13, 2009, p.1, Pune).

It is concluded that, the tribal poverty is still at extreme level,

which can only be reduced by making the laws to bring back the lost

resources like forest and land to them and provision of education,

within the village or basic necessities of life have to be made available,

which are within their reach.

BODY MASS INDEX

Body mass index is one of the important indices to determine the

health on the basis of weight and height. BMI can be computed as

bellow:

Weight in Kg

BMI:

Height in Metre2

Whereas, BMI stands for Body Mass Index

Here the weight of a person (in Kg) is divided by height in M2

(Metre Square). It is generally computed by doctors to check the health

152

of a person immediately. The scale determines that if the index is below

the 18.5 then the person is considered underweight. Normal weight

index ranges between 21 and 24.9, for over weight it is between 24.9

and 30, and obesity is considered when the index is above 30. The most

crucial about a person is that, if the index value is below 18.5 and over

25. It becomes serious when the index is more than 30. Therefore, the

values below 18.5 and above 30, both are dangerous which can cause

serious health problems like blood pressure, anemia, heart attack, etc.

The survey conducted in 2006-10 in 14 tribal sample villages, has

shown that, more than one third of the tribals were seriously under

weight. It is investigated that 8 villages out of 14 sample villages, the

tribals were having their under weight much below the value of 18.5

and the proportion of tribals with under weight was above the average

(35.21%) for the study area. Nearly 31.04 per cent were with light

under weight from 18.5 to 21. It means that under weight below 18.5

(35.21%) and light under weight 18.5 to 21 (31.04%) account for 66.25

per cent tribals who were under weight. It further shows that nearly

two thirds of their population is with under weight, which is a serious

case of malnutrition among the tribals. It is very serious in Itwai

(60.00%) village of Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district and some

villages in same district like Kankala (41.33%), Pohara (40.63%), and

Kakarpada (38.83) have been seriously suffering from malnutrition as

their substaitial proportions of population is under weight.

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TABLE 7.1

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) OF TRIBALS IN

SAMPLE VILLAGES, 2006-10

Under

weight

below

18.5

Light

Under

weight

18.5 to

21

Normal

weight

21 to

25

Light

Over

weight

25to

30

Obese

more

than

30

Sr.

No.

Name of

Village

Name of

Tahsils

Name of

Districts

% % % % %

1 Chandikapur Dindori Nashik 19.81 28.82 38.73 8.10 4.50

2 Bhanwad Dindori Nashik 29.76 26.01 26.58 10.11 7.51

3 Bhatode Dindori Nashik 36.64 22.90 22.9 9.16 8.39

4 Borvan Dindori Nashik 21.38 22.01 25.15 22.01 9.43

5 Popsi Dindori Nashik 32.43 24.87 23.17 12.92 6.58

6 Koch Mokhada Thane 36.50 36.5 18.51 5.82 2.64

7 Ghatkarpada Mokhada Thane 36.51 36.51 18.52 5.82 2.65

8 Nyahale Jawhar Thane 30.97 33.63 26.55 4.42 4.42

9 Karamba Jawhar Thane 27.53 35.63 24.29 6.48 6.07

10 Sulyachpada Jawhar Thane 40.68 38.98 11.86 4.24 4.24

11 Kankala Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 41.33 31.63 17.86 04.59 04.79

12 Itwai Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 60.00 24.76 06.66 03.81 04.76

13 Pohara Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 40.63 38.75 18.75 00.62 01.25

14 Kakarpada Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 38.83 33.50 20.39 04.34 01.94

Average 35.21 31.04 21.42 7.32 04.94

Source: Fieldwork, 2006-10

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35.21

31.04

21.42

7.32

4.94

0 10 20 30 40

Average

Under Weight (below

18.5)

Light Under Weight

(18.5 to 21)

Normal Weight (21

to 25)

Light Over Weight

(25 to 30)

Obese (More than

30)

Bo

dy

We

igh

t In

de

x

Body mass Index (BMI) of Tribals in Sample Villages, 2006-10

Fig.7.1

The problem of light under weight was more than 31 per cent of

tribal population. It is further found that little over 21 (21.42%) per

cent tribals were having normal weight between the index value of 21

and 25. The lowest value of normal weight (06.66%) in Itwai in

Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district, and Sulyachapada (11.86%)

village of Jawhar tahsil of Thane district respectively and closely

followed by Kankala (17.86%),and Pohara (18.75%) in same district. In

these villages more than 60 per cent tribals were under weight. The

proportion of tribals with light over weight on an average was 07.32 per

cent. The high proportion of 22.01 per cent was in Borvan in Dindori

tahsil of Nashik and it was distantly followed by 12.92 per cent in

Phopsi and 10.11 per cent in Bhanwad villages in Dindori tahsil of

Nashik district.

In other villages nowhere it exceeds 10 per cent. In 11 villages

the proportion of tribals with light overweight was above average

(04.94%) of the sample study area. It is astonished to note that even

155

among the tribals the proportion of on an average was 3.3 per cent,

which is also a serious problem for those who have crossed the index

value of 30. It was relatively serious in Bhanwad, Batode, Borvan, and

Popsi in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district and Karamba in Jawhar

tahsil of Thane district. This problem has come up with those people

who have been occupying good positions, may be villages’ sarpanch,

some teachers and those who have established their some business in

the nearby towns. But this is not that serious and the proportion is also

insignificant, the serious problem with the tribals having under weight,

and their proportion was near about 35 per cent. This has to be tackled

by opening ration depots, where from they can be provided food grains

including pulses at cheaper rate to bring the tribal poverty and

malnutrition problem to normal weight and health. Those who are

stricken with absolute poverty and facing the problem of food insecurity

should be provided free of cost food grains as per their needs and

requirements.

NUTRITION AND HEALTH

Life can not be sustained with out adequate nourishment. Man

needs sufficient food for growth, development and to lead an active and

healthy life (Gopalan, et.al, 1989). The major part of life is spent for

producing enough food for the survival of man and his family. It is

generally believed that the nutritional status of a person is a function

of his/her socio-economic condition. In fact social and economically

better of people enjoy high nutritional status (Mandal et.al, 2005).

Whereas vast mass of rural people particularly SC and STs suffer from

under nutrition or malnutrition primarily due to unemployment and

poverty. The health of a person depends upon various factors ranging

from the quality and quantity of food intake and also other surrounding

environmental factors including the type and quality of house they live

in. Health has been defined by WHO (1956) as the “state of complete

156

physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of

disease or infirmity”. It is noted that appropriate nutrition intervention

activities could reduce morbidity and mortality from heart diseases by

25 per cent, from respiratory and infections diseases by 20 per cent,

from cancer by 20 per cent and from diabetes by 50 per cent (Dasgupta,

1989, p.1). No life can exist without food that supplies nutrition, and

that is why every living organism strive its utmost to obtain its food

requirement (Gopalan, et.al. 1977). In this chapter it is intended to

ascertain the health status of tribal population in 14 case study villages

in the state undertaken for the present study based on the first hand

information. One may find that the tribals in Maharashtra or

elsewhere are the most vulnerable groups among whom the nutritional

deficiency occurs more frequently and to a more severe degree, which

requires special attention to look into their problem.

To look into the nutritional status of tribal people, as mentioned

above, data has been collected from 14 case study villages with the help

of household schedule, which incorporated the questions like diet-veg

and non-veg, expenditure on food, fruit, milk and other details related

to food intake. This has been computed to indicate whether they are

getting sufficient or insufficient food.

MALNUTRITION PROBLEM IN INDIA

India has a highest number of malnourished children in the

world. Madhya Pradesh is the worst affected state in India, about 47

per cent children below the age group of 5 in the country numbering 57

million are under weight even sub-saharan African countries are better

than India where hardly 33 per cent children were affected with

malnutrition as it was reported in UNICIF’S progress for children, a

report card on nutrition. The worst affected states in India are Uttar

Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Bihar and Maharashtra where more than

157

50 per cent children were in these states Malnourished. (TOI, May 4,

2006).

All these states are backward barring Maharashtra, but

Maharashtra despite one of the advanced states is also equally affected

with deaths of tribal children problem. But the states like Goa,

Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and Karala having well nourished children.

According to UNICEF figures, half of the worlds under weight children

live in south Asia, more than half of the worlds malnourished and

under nourished children just like, in 4 nation’s viz. India (57 million),

Bangladesh (8 million), Pakistan (8 million) and China (7 million). This

problem is mainly due to poverty, low status of women and early

marriages leading to high birth rate, bad quality of hygiene and mass

illiteracy. The malnutrition rate in India has declined from 70 per cent

in 1970 to 47 per cent in 2008, due to India’s commitment but still we

are in the category of worst affected countries. It needs to be done a lot

for them.

The government’s claim is that poverty has slashed from 36 per

cent to 26 per cent between 1996 and 2000 but it is doubtful poverty

remains concentrated in Bihar, UP, MP, Maharashtra and Karanataka

(TOI, Sept. 27. 2006).

TRIBAL HEALTH PROBLEM IN MAHARASHTRA

In Maharashtra, mostly in the tribal areas serious problem is

malnutrition due to which many tribal children die. This is primarily

due to poverty and low access to nutritious food as the unemployment

is a common phenomena. Malnutrition has been defined by the World

Health Organization (WHO) as “A pathological state resulting from a

relative or absolute deficiency or excess of one or more essential

nutrients. This state being clinically manifested or detected only either

by biochemical anthropometric or physiologic test”

158

As per the survey conducted by ‘Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi

Parishad’ (ABVP) in Nandurbar, Thane and Nashik district revealed

that 85 per cent of the 3170 children in 59 Padas (tribal hamlets) were

malnourished (The Times of India, Nov. 7 2004, p.1). Because of

malnutrition, they are down with various diseases like scabies, stomach

problems particularly among the children below 6. It is further

reported that the district Nandurbar in North-Western part of

Maharashtra was found to be worst hit with 1191 malnourished

children. It was closely followed by Thane (793) and Nashik (717), (The

Times of India, Nov.27 2004, p.1). It is also pointed out that 3231

children have died between April and August across 15 tribal districts

in the state. (The Times of India, Oct. 18 2004, p7),

The major problem of child deaths of tribes is confined to five

districts of Thane, Nandurbar, Nashik, Amravati and Gadchiroli. The

majority of the deaths occurred of the tribal children in these districts

were due to diarrhoea and other water borne diseases particularly in

mansoon season. One can also find that the malnutrion and their

deaths is the result of their poverty and low access to nutritious food,

and unemployment is another major problem of the tribal people. It is

further found that 117 children in the tribal hill tracts of Melghat were

perished due to malnourishment. These deaths took place in

Chikaldara and Dhorni tahsils of Amaravati districts, which took place

between April 1 and July 25, 2008. Bandu Sen of NGO’s Khoj’, who

works for the tribals in this area, specifically mentioned that these

tribal deaths have occurred due to the negligence of local

administration at Melghat. They are responsible for their pathetic

conditions of tribals despite the fact they knew out of 117 tribal deaths,

43 children were in the age group of 1- 6 years, while 74 children were

0-1 year age group. (TOI, Aug.15, 2008).

It is also found that in Melghat and other districts including

Vaijaphirs, Badali, where the death rate of tribal children was very

159

serious. As per 2001 census, there were 18.39 lakh children in the age

group 0-6 in Marathawada region. But as per the government survey,

this number was 12.9 lakh only and due to this erroneous information

about 5.4 lakh children could not be benefited from getting the

nutritious food as it was planned for them. However, thereafter they

were included in the list affected malnourished children. All this has

shown that, there was a serious condition of tribal children in an

advanced state of Maharashtra.

This problem has taken place due to shortage of medical services

to these people. In Melghat area there are 11 primary health centres

but having only 3 MBBS doctors, other doctors posted in this region are

from other branches like homeopathic and ayaurvedic. It means that

there is also dearth of good medical staff.

TRIBAL HEALTH STATUS AT VILLGE LEVAL

The problem of malnutrition in India as a whole is a serious one

since every third adult in the country is underweight and about 50 per

cent die due to malnutrition. The state of health of children, no doubt is

a pitiable in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, but it is astonishing that

a state like Maharashtra which is one of the most industrialized and

urbanized and ranks third in per capita income lagging much behind in

case of child health especially in the tribal areas of the state. It is also

important to note that 27 per cent of the world undernourished

population lives in India, more than seventy per cent children

undernourished suffer from anaemia and that proportion has been

increasing.

To comprehend the calorie intake of tribal children as well as

their overall situation, we have computed the calorie intake index for

the above said groups for which data were collected from 14 sample

villages by conducting intensive survey in 2006-10 and the data is

presented in Table 7.1. For adult tribals the average calorie

requirement for moderate work with body weight about 60 was

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considered 2875 kilocalories and for children up to the 6 age group was

on an average 1465 kilocalories (Gopalan, et.al 1977).

The case study villages from the districts of Thane, Nashik, and

Nandurbar where more than 43.09 per cent of the total tribal

population in the state is concentrated having very serious problem of

malnutrition and under-weight of children below the age of 0-6. As per

our survey, (2006-10) it is found that on an average more than 58 per

cent (58.10%) tribal children in the case study villages suffer from

insufficient calori intake. They are so malnourished and under-weight

that their poor health condition itself reflects from them. This

insufficient intake of calori problem is very much related to their

extremely poverty stricken condition. In the entire study area, out of 14

sample villages this malnutrition problem varies from a minimum of

34.08 per cent in Kakarpada in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district

to a maximum of 96.55 per cent in Borvan in Dindori tahsil of Nashik

district. In about five villages viz. Kakarpada (34.08%), Pohara

(43.17%) in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district, Nyahale (37.50%),

Sulyachpada (37.50%) in Jawhar tahsil, and Koch (41.18%) in Mokhada

tahsil of Thane district. These five villages mostly fall in Nandurbar

and Thane districts where less than 45 per cent children were having

food much less than what it was required (1465), although these

villages have shown the better status as compared to other parts of

study area. In about seven villages the proportion of children with

insufficient availability of food has raised from 50 to 80 per cent. These

villages are Ghatkarpada (50.00%) in Mokhada tahsil, Karamba

(55.56%) in Jawhar tahsil of Thane district, Kankala (57.47%) and

Itwai (60.55%) in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district, Bhanwad

(62.96%), Chandikapur (66.66%), and Phopsi (76.92%). Not only this

Table 7.3, further brings out the most serious villages with this

problem of malnutrition. These are two villages where almost all

children were suffering from insufficient food intake from this problem.

For instance, Bhatode (93.33%) and Borvan (96.55%) villages are in

161

Dindori tahsil of Nashik district. The Borvan village is located in such a

situation, where there the communication problem is the major

problem. Poverty and health problems are not only among the children

even of adult is serious one where within the range of 6 km no medical

facility is available. The main diet of the people is rice, nachani and

udid dal, Electricity road; drinking water is not available. Electricity,

water and road are the most important indicators of development,

which are totally missing even in this most developed and most

industrially advanced state, the most backward areas have been

identified where people especially of tribal community are in serious

state of health . It is also observed that the fertility rate is still very

high in this village and on an average it is 5 to 8. The number of

children to a woman was between 5 and 8 which is very high rate in the

state. The land, which they hold do not produce sufficient food for them.

Unemployment rate is also very high accompanied with by illiteracy

problem. Life is very slow and steady. Their progress is not observed

any where. All the indicators of development are in the high ranking of

malnutrition problem. It is suggested that these villages need to be

addressed to tackle this problem with priority.

OVERALL CALORI INTAKE INDEX IN SAMPLE VILLAGES

Table 7.3 further reveals that the overall calorie intake for the

whole tribal population in the case study villages was such that near

about 58 per cent of the tribal population was having food much less

than what it was required daily (2875) for an adult man moderately

active. The difference between overall index and the index for 0-6 age

group of children does not show much difference but in case of the

children it is slightly high. This index explicitly shows that tribals in

the north-western part of Maharashtra there they are highly

concentrated do not get sufficient food to eat and this is what it is found

that in almost all villages this problem is common; just it makes

difference in degrees. It ranges from a minimum of 36.53 per cent in

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Bhanwad villages in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district to a maximum of

92.59 per cent in Borvan village in same tahsil and district. The Table

7.3 vindicates that some of the villages in Nashik and Nandurbar

district are highly affected with inadequate supply of food.

The villages like Bhanwad (36.53%), Dindori tahsil of Nashik

district, Kakarpada (41.813%), Pohara (45.33%) in Akkalkuwa tahsil of

Nandurbar district, and Koch (47.06%) in Mokhada tahsil of Thane

district where the insufficient calorie index ranged between 36 and 50

per cent. It is further found that there were as many as six villages viz.

Chindikapur (54.54%), Sulyachapada (55.56%), Ghatakarpada

(55.56%), Kankala (56.49%), Nyahale (58.00%), and Karamba (58.33%)

ranged between mre than 54 and less than59 per cent, getting

insufficient food.

TABLE 7.2

OVERALL CALORIE INTAKE INDEX OF TRIBALS IN SAMPLE

VILLAGES, 2006-10

Total

Household

0-6 Age Group

Sr.

No.

Name of

village

Name of

Tahsils

Name of

Dist Suffi-

cient

food

Insuffi

cient

food

Suffi-

cient

food

Insuffi

-cient

food

1 Chandikapur Dindori Nashik 45.45 54.54 33.33 66.66

2 Bhanwad Dindori Nashik 63.46 36.53 37.03 62.96

3 Bhatode Dindori Nashik 13.63 86.36 6.66 93.33

4 Borvan Dindori Nashik 07.24 92.59 3.44 96.55

5 Popsi Dindori Nashik 39.47 60.52 23.07 76.92

6 Koch Mokhada Thane 52.94 47.06 58.82 41.18

7 Ghatkarpada Mokhada Thane 44.44 55.56 50.00 50.00

8 Nyahale Jawhar Thane 42.00 58.00 62.50 37.50

9 Karamba Jawhar Thane 41.67 58.33 44.44 55.56

10 Sulyachpada Jawhar Thane 44.44 55.56 62.50 37.50

11 Kankala Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 43.51 56.49 42.53 57.47

12 Itwai Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 33.89 66.11 39.45 60.55

13 Pohara Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 54.67 45.33 56.83 43.17

14 Kakarpada Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 58.19 41.81 65.92 34.08

Average 41.79 58.20 41.89 58.10

Source: Fieldwork, 2006-10

163

41.79

58.2

41.89

58.1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Av

era

ge

Adult 0 to 6 age group

Calorie Intake Index

Sufficient Food Insufficient Food

Overall Calorie Intake Index of Tribals in Sample

Villages, 2006-2010

Fig.7.2

In all there are 10 villages where about above 35 to less than 59

per cent tribals do not get the adequate calorie for their health

maintenance in thecase study villages. In the remaining 04 villages out

of 14 sample villages, which constituted of above average (85.20%) of

total villages in which tribals ranging above 60 per cent to about 93 per

cent get insufficient food. As many as six villages for instance,

Chandikapur, Ghatkarpada, Sulyachpada, Nyahale and Karamba fall

in the range of above 50 to 60 per cent of insufficient food intake. In

about four villages the condition is quite serious, for instance, Phopsi

(60.52%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district, Itwai (66.11%) in

Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district, Bhatode (86.36%) and Borvan

(92.59%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district. It very clearly shows that

Bhatode, and Borvan are the villages where the problem of inadequate

food supply and malnutrition is almost common problem of each

household. The village Borvan has been identified the most serious one

164

both in terms of child health as well as in overall health status of the

tribal people in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district.

As mentioned earlier that this problem of malnutrition of tribal

people in case study villages, particularly the tribal children are in a

serious status of health as they are unable to get sufficient food to eat.

The children in the age group 0-6 should get 1465 calorie per day but in

about 09 villages more than 50 per cent children do not get and in case

of overall tribal population 10 villages out of 14 more than 50 per cent

tribal people do not get as per the daily requirement (2875) calorie per

day as per person as per the index given by Gopalan, et.al. Considering

a moderate requirement of calorie for the tribals even then it is

observed that malnutrition not only among the children but the entire

tribal population is suffering from this problem. It is found that around

84 lakhs children in Maharashtra up to 5 years age have been

identified to be suffering from malnutrition of varying degrees. Out of

these 84 lakh more than 12 lakh children suffer from severe

malnourishment as pointed by Naresh Gite Director Rajmata Jijau

Mother Child Health and Nutrition Mission (TOI, Jan, 25th 2010)

TABLE 7.3

STATUS OF MALNUTRITION IN MAHARASHTRA, 2010.

Sr. No Name of Division

No & % of

Severe

Childrans

No & % of

Moderate

Childrans

1 Pune 498 (5.08%) 40,000 (11.56%)

2 Konkan 396 (4.04%) 47,000 (13.58%)

3 Aurangabad 1873 (19.11%) 51,000 (14.73%)

4 Nashik 3229 (15.03%) 1, 10,000 (31.79%)

5 Nagpur 1473 (15.03%) 36,000 (10.40%)

6 Amravati 2331 (23.78%) 62,000 (17.91%)

Total 9800 3,46,000

(Source: TOI, Jan, 25th 2010)

165

The recent study conducted by Naresh Gite (2010) Director

Rajmata Jijau Mother Child Health and Nutrition Mission has also

pointed out that in Nashik division their were 3229 children (32.94%)

out of 9800 severely malnourished in the age group of 0-5 at the same

time. The moderately affected, children in the Nashik division where

around 1, 10,000 (31.79%) out 3, 46, 000 children as per the report in

the same division. The study has also identified the villages with the

children having severe malnourished problem (TOI, Jan, 25th 2010). It

is also pointed out how to control this problem at different level in the

state of Maharashtra. At the primary health centre, medical officers, at

local levels, taluka health officer or the child development project

officer at district level, district health officer, Z. P Officer, CEO and the

district collector are shouldered with the responsibility of treatment of

severely malnourished children has been established at this levels. Not

only this the government resolution (GR) also states that the

government has allowed financial assessment for the treatment of

malnourished children that ranges from Rs 30 to Rs165 per day at

village and rural hospital under the Javian Diyee Scheme for the

treatment of such children at super specialty hospital after having this

report government has accepted and issued the GR for strict

implementation to check the malnutrition in both rural and urban

areas (TOI, Jan, 25th 2010)

166

TABLE 7.4

PROPORTION OF BPL AND ABOVE BPL OF TRIBAL

HOUSEHOLDS IN SAMPLE VILLAGES, 2006-10

Source: Fieldwork, 2006-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Per

cen

t

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Village No.

BPL

Above BPL

Proportion of BPL and above BPL of Tribal Housing in

Sample Villages, 2006-10 Fig. 7.3

Vill.

No.

Name of

village

Name of

Tahsil

Name of

District

Surveyed

households BPL

Above

BPL

1 Chandikapur Dindori Nashik 22 68.11 31.81

2 Bhanwad Dindori Nashik 52 59.61 40.38

3 Bhatode Dindori Nashik 22 68.18 31.81

4 Borvan Dindori Nashik 27 92.60 7.40

5 Popsi Dindori Nashik 76 68.42 37.57

6 Koch Mokhada Thane 34 73.52 26.47

7 Ghatkarpada Mokhada Thane 27 74.07 25.92

8 Nyahale Jawhar Thane 50 68.00 32.00

9 Karamba Jawhar Thane 24 91.66 8.33

10 Sulyachpada Jawhar Thane 27 74.07 25.92

11 Kankala Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 39 73.24 26.76

12 Itwai Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 24 72.88 27.12

13 Pohara Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 33 68.69 31.31

14 Kakarpada Akkalkuwa Nandurbar 42 65.43 34.57

Average 498 72.75 27.67

167

TABLE 7.5

VILLAGE LEVEL PER CAPITA INCOME, 2006-10.

CO

L.N

O

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Sr.

No

Name of

village

Total no.

of

surveyed

house

holds

No of

house-

holds

with less

than Rs

2500

% of less

than

2500 per

capita

income

No of

house

holds

with Rs

2500 to

5000 per

capita

income

% of less

than Rs

2500 to

5000 per

capita

income

Total of

columns

nos (3+5)

% of

column

nos

(4+6)

No of

house

holds

with

above Rs

5000 per

capita

income

% of

house

hold with

above Rs

5000 per

capita

income

Total %

of income

1 Chandikapur 22 2 9.09 14 63.63 16 72.72 6 27.27 100

2 Bhanwad 52 7 13.46 24 46.15 31 59.61 21 40.38 100

3 Bhatode 22 4 18.18 11 50.00 15 68.18 7 31.81 100

4 Borvan 27 14 51.85 5 18.51 19 70.37 8 29.62 100

5 Popsi 76 21 27.63 33 43.42 54 71.05 22 28.94 100

6 Koch 34 20 58.82 5 14.70 25 73.52 9 26.47 100

7 Ghatkarpada 27 17 62.96 3 11.11 20 74.07 7 25.92 100

8 Nyahale 50 22 44.00 12 24.00 34 68.00 16 32.00 100

9 Karamba 24 20 83.33 2 8.33 22 91.66 2 8.33 100

10 Sulyachpada 27 16 59.25 4 14.81 20 74.07 7 25.92 100

11 Kankala 39 02 05.13 09 23.07 11 28.21 28 71.79 100

12 Itwai 24 02 08.33 05 20.83 07 29.17 17 70.83 100

13 Pohara 33 00 00.00 02 06.06 02 06.06 31 93.94 100

14 Kakarpada 42 02 04.76 05 11.90 07 16.67 35 83.33 100

Total 498 149 31.91 134 25.47 283 57.38 216 42.61 100 Source: Fieldwork, 2006-10

168

CONCLUSION

It is inferred that malnutrition among the tribals in the sample

study villages particularly among the children in the age group 0-6 is a

serious one. It is found that 58.20 per cent tribal population does not

get sufficient food as per our survey in 2006-10. In more than 10

sample villages the malnutrition is relatively very high as the calorie

intake is much less than it is required (2875) daily for a person who

does moderately hard work.

Four villages like Borvan (92.59%), Bhatode (86.36%) and Phopsi

(60.52%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district, and Itwai (66.11%) in

Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district are identified with extremely

serious problem of insufficient food intake. In case of children in the

age group 0-6, Bhatode (93.33%), Borvan (96.55%), Phopsi (76.92%),

Bhanwad (62.96%), and Chandikapur (66.66%) in Dindori tahsil of

Nashik district, Itwai (60.55%), in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar

district, having pitiable condition where the tribal children are trapped

in a worst condition of poverty and getting much low calorie intake

than the required amount (1465). It is much higher than the overall

inadequacy in calorie intake (58.10%) in the case study villages. The

National Family Health Survey of 1992-93 has given 53 per cent

children who were severely or moderately malnourished in 0-4 year’s

age group. If they could have surveyed and analyzed their calorie

intake problem of 0-6 age group, must have found with much higher

proportion of children with malnutrition. Malnutrition is related to

illiteracy, poverty; unemployment, inaccessibility to food, geographical

and seasonal distribution of food, large family size, etc.

It is also found that about 35 per cent tribal population in this

north-western part of Maharashtra was underweight with BMI index

value below 18.5, and 30 with light under weight (18.5 to 21). Nearly

two-thirds of the tribal population was identified with underweight and

one-fourth with normal weight (BMI 21 to 25).

169

Majority of tribals (50.47%) are stricken with poverty. One-third

of the tribal households in the study area having per capita income

below Rs 2500, considered extremely poor and 17.35 per cent

moderately stricken with poverty as their per capita income was

between Rs 2500 and Rs 5000. In all more than 50 per cent tribal

population is below poverty line. In comparison to planning commission

of India (27.5%) and World Bank (41.6%) figures for population stricken

with poverty, the proportion of tribal population with extreme poverty

is much higher (above 50%).

The five villages extremely stricken with poverty are Borvan

(92.60%), in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district, and Karamba (91.66%) in

Jawahar tahsil of Thane district. Malnutrition, poverty and body mass

index (BMI) are the serious problems of tribal well-being and health,

which need to be addressed by making a provision of cheap food supply

with good content of protein and energy to tribals.

Government GR (Government Resolution) has also given

instructions for the treatment of children in supper specialty hospital,

if not done the medical officers, tahsildar or district collector will be

held responsible for negligence of duty. It should also be taken seriously

that the person in charge of delivering the food on ration card if not

supplying the given quantity as prescribed by the government should

be punished so that the care of all people suffering from malnutrition or

inadequacy of food should be given top priority for raising their well

being and overall development. While writing this concluding

statement, it is further noticed that about 67 children, during the last

three months (April to June, 2010), were succumbed to malnutrition in

Akkalkuwa and Akarni (Dhadgao) tahsils of Nandurbar district and

108 villages in all, 55 in the former and 53 in the later were in a serious

condition, can be victim of malnutrition any time (Sakal, 14 July, 2010,

p.8). It proves further that government and some other agencies in the

state shouldered responsibility to save the life of the tribals especially

170

the malnutrished children don’t show any sign or serious attempt to

towards it.

It should be kept in mind that people suffering from malnutrition

be given top priority to minimize their problem by making provision of

adequate food for them through ration depots of the government. It

should be checked from time to time whether the provision made for

them has been functioning properly or not.

The aforesaid discussion reflects that, the tribals mostly living in

worst condition and a very insignificant part emerging with

satisfactory level of well-being. Poverty, illiteracy, non-availability of

drinking water, lacking necessary infrastructural facilities like road

and communication, lack of schooling facilities, etc. are the major

problems. We find here almost all tribal villages, barring a very few are

stricken with poverty and therefore unable to have accessibility to food

health, education, employment, etc. It is strongly felt and concluded

that no more time should be wasted in making plans on paper, but it

should be done practically which can be made open to assess the

development by any agency. It is further suggested that the base of

generating sufficient income should be made with which they can meet

their minimum needs. Their land has to be returned to them and

should have the ownership. The right to forest resource should only be

with the tribals as they never exploit and nor they waste but only make

use of it and judiciously with sustainable and natural development.

Even among the tribals, the land lords with large chunk of land,

dictating their terms to other poor tribals. And those who go out of the

village for higher education and have got good prestigious job, never

return to their villages for the development of their own area and

people therein. It is felt that tribal youths should have the feeling to

develop their areas. For instance, teachers from their community

should be trained and posted there; they can teach and make them

understood in their own language how to develop their families to bring

171

them out from the crushing poverty. Having generated their own

human resources will lead to development of tribal areas.

It is also suggested that development of infrastructure in tribal

areas should not lead their further exploitation. Their development is

an uphill task but if it is being done honestly and sincerely and with

political will, it will certainly bring development in tribal areas.

172

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173

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