Odisha govt move will 'deteriorate' nutritional status of PVTG children, increase morbidity, mortality

Counterview Desk

All India Health Rights Campaign (Rashtriy Swasthya Adhikar Abhiyan), opposing the decision of Government of Odisha to close down creches and nutritional feeding centres in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) villages of the state, has written a letter to Antar Sing Arya, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) demanding continuation of these centers for improvement of nutritional status of children and mother from PVTG communities.

The Government of Odisha took the decision to shut down the creches and nutritional feeding centers running particularly for PVTG communities under the Odisha Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Nutrition Empowerment Programme (OPNIP) with effect from 1st October 2024. The program aimed to address the nutritional issues of children and mothers by establishing creches and feeding centres in 12 districts: Angul, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjan, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Rayagada, and Sundergarh.

Reports indicate that the Tribal Department of Government of Odisha operated 61 creches and 272 child and maternal feeding centres in the state. "This abrupt closure has left these vulnerable communities without a crucial lifeline, especially at a time when the Government of India has launched such an extensive programme for tribal welfare", said the campaign group, attached with the National Alliance of People’s Movements.

"The nutritional status of these children will start deteriorating very soon with increased morbidity and mortality. The mothers will have to opt out of the labour force to take care of the children. The communities formed around the crèches will disperse leaving mothers without a support system. All this will seriously impact any gains made in past years and prove negative for the objectives of the Government of India’s extensive programme for tribal welfare", it added.

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India has a diverse range of tribal communities comprising over 705 distinct groups. The Scheduled Tribe (ST) population is 10.45 crore, or 8.6% of the total population. There are 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) located in 15 States and Union Territories, with 13 PVTGs found in the State of Odisha. These groups include Birhor, Bonda, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Dongria-Kondh, Hill Kharia, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankirdia, Paudi Bhuyan, and Saora. They are concentrated in specific areas across 12 districts of the State, namely Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati, and Ganjam. Seven PVTGs are located in the Eastern Ghats region of Odisha, while six PVTGs are found in the Northern Plateaus.

In the last several years there are many programmes being implemented for the PVTG communities. On October 2nd, 2024, the Government of India's Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced the Dharti Aba Janjatiya Utkarsh Abhiyan, with a budget of Rs. 79,150 crore, to address critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihood development across approximately 63,000 villages. The Ministry has listed the operationalization of 275 mobile medical units and 500 Aaganwadi centres as initiatives to benefit PVTG families.

According to the news published in a daily, the Government of Odisha has decided to shut down the creches and nutritional feeding centres running particularly for PVTGs communities under the Odisha Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Nutrition Empowerment Programme (OPNIP) with effect from 1st October 2024. The program aimed to address the nutritional issues of children and mothers by establishing creches and feeding centres in 12 districts: Angul, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjan, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Rayagada, and Sundergarh.

Media reports indicate that the Tribal Department of Government of Odisha operated 61 creches and 272 child and maternal feeding centres in Odisha. However, it is alarming to know that these centres have been closed from 30th September 2024. The closure of these centres has caused distress in these vulnerable communities, leaving their nutritional needs unmet.

This abrupt closure has left these vulnerable communities without a crucial lifeline, especially at a time when the Government of India has launched such an extensive programme for tribal welfare. The nutritional status of these children will start deteriorating very soon with increased morbidity and mortality. The mothers will have to opt out of the labour force to take care of the children. The communities formed around the crèches will disperse leaving mothers without a support system. All this will seriously impact any gains made in past years and prove negative for the objectives of the Government of India’s extensive programme for tribal welfare.

In respect of under-nutrition among Scheduled Tribes, as per National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Infant Mortality Rate and Under Five Mortality Rate has still above the national average.

In Odisha, 31% of children under five are stunted, 29.7% are underweight, and 24.2% are wasted

According to the NFHS-5 data, in Odisha, 31% of children under five years of age are stunted (low height for age), 29.7% are underweight (low weight for age), and 24.2% are wasted (low weight for height). The NFHS-5 notes that the level of under nutrition is higher among the ST as compared to other groups.

Only 20.4% of children aged 6-23 months receive an adequate diet in Odisha. The prevalence of anaemia in women is also high: 64.3% of all women aged between 15 and 49 are anaemic, which is higher than the national average of 57%. There is a scope for corrective action, such as immunization and managing acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, and malnutrition.

However, ensuring adequate infant and child nutrition is the crucial measure. We must ensure that children are not undernourished, and for this supplementary feeding programme are essential, in addition to providing sustainable livelihoods to their households. As per the Food Security Act, it is the duty of the State to provide adequate food intake to children and mothers.

Some provisions have been made in the Indian Constitution that fixes the responsibility of the government to take care of the health and nutrition citizens and especially children, such as:

Article 21 - Right to Life.
Article 45 - Provision for early childhood care and education for children below the age of six years- The State shall endeavour to provide for early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six year.
Article 47: The State shall consider raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and improving public health as its primary duties.

As the commission has taken various steps and implemented programmes for the development of the PVTGs in across the country including Odisha, we kindly urge you to take immediate action to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of this critical programme aimed at improving the nutrition of children and mothers. Your role in this matter is crucial, and we believe that your intervention can make a significant difference in the lives of these tribal communities.

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*Signatories: Dr. Anant Phadke, Prafulla Samantra, Prof Manoranjan Mohanty, Medha Patkar, Dr Ritu Priya, Veena Satrughna, Nikunj Bhutia, Devprasad Ray, Lingaraj, Rajkumar Sinha, Suhas Kolhekar, Anil Goswami, Suresh Rathore, Meera Sanghamitra, Dr. Swathi S.B., Kailash Meena, Amulya Nidhi, Dr. G.D. Verma, Rakesh Chandore, Latika Rajput

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