TRIBAL HEALTHCARE IN INDIA

Latest Context

The healthcare issues that tribal communities in India faced have recently attracted attention. Despite India's outstanding accomplishments, including ranking as the fifth-largest economy in the world and making a big contribution to the worldwide immunisation effort, tribal populations still face severe healthcare disparities.

5. It is critical to address the urgent need for fair healthcare access for tribal groups while India celebrates its successes during India@75.

What is the situation with tribal communities in India?

Demographic Status:

• In India, tribal people make up around 8.9% of the population, which is a sizeable chunk of the nation.
• The "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups" (PVTGs), often referred to as the "Primitive Tribes," comprise around 2.6 million (2.5%) of the total population of Schedule Tribes and are the most underprivileged of all Schedule Tribe populations.
• They are dispersed over several states, but are more prevalent in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, the North-East states, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Cultural Status:

• Indian tribal communities have a rich and varied culture, language, and customs of their own.
• They coexist well with nature and rely on hills and woods for their survival.
• Regarding health, education, religion, and government, they each have their own beliefs and practises.

Constitutional and statutory provisions:

• According to Article 342 of the Indian Constitution, several tribal communities are recognised as Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India.
• For the sake of their social, economic, educational, and political growth, they are entitled to particular rights and protections.
• Numerous laws and regulations, including the PESA Act of 1996, the Forest Rights Act of 2006, and the 5th and 6th Scheduled Areas, protect their rights.
• Through reserved seats, they are also represented in the State and Parliamentary legislatures.
• India's first tribal president is Draupadi Murmu.

Developmental Status:

• In terms of poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, health, employment, infrastructure, and human rights, tribal communities in India face several difficulties and disadvantages.
• On a number of measures of human development, including income, education, health, sanitization, and gender equality, they do worse than the national average.
• They further experience violence, brutality from non-tribal individuals and organisations, exploitation, and relocation. They only have a limited number of resources and involvement possibilities available to them.

What are the main problems with tribal health?

Malnutrition:

• Tribal people do not consume enough or the proper kind of food to maintain their health. They struggle with malnutrition, anaemia, stunting, wasting, and hunger.

Communicable Diseases:

• Due to a number of conditions, including inadequate sanitation and hygiene, and limited access to healthcare, tribal people are more susceptible to contract infectious illnesses such malaria, TB, leprosy, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and diseases carried by insects or animals.

Non-Communicable Diseases:

• People from tribal groups are also susceptible to developing chronic illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and mental problems.
• A study found that 25% of tribal people had high blood pressure and that 13% of tribal adults have diabetes.

Addictions:

• A number of things, including smoking, drinking, and abusing drugs, can contribute to the above-mentioned disorders.
• In comparison to 56% and 30% of non-tribal men, more than 72% of 15–54-year-old tribal men smoke tobacco and more than 50% drink alcohol.

Challenges in Tribal Health

Lack of Infrastructure:

• Infrastructure and medical facilities in tribal regions are inadequate.
• Inadequate access to sanitary facilities and clean water.

Shortage of Medical Professionals:

• There aren't many medical professionals, such as physicians and nurses, in indigenous areas.
• difficulty in recruiting and keeping qualified healthcare workers in rural locations.
• healthcare workers are inequitably distributed, with a focus on metropolitan regions.

Connectivity and Geographic Barriers:

• Access to medical services is made more difficult by remote places and challenging terrain.
• lack of functional communications networks, transportation infrastructure, and roadways.
• Reaching tribal groups during emergencies and giving prompt medical aid might be difficult.

Affordability and Financial Constraints:

• Low-income levels and little financial resources among native populations.
• Inability to pay for healthcare costs, such as prescription drugs, diagnostic procedures, and medical treatments.
• Lack of knowledge about various insurance and healthcare choices.

Cultural Sensitivities and Language Barriers:

• Distinctive cultural customs and beliefs that influence how people seek medical care.
• Language problems between medical professionals and native populations result in misunderstandings and subpar care.
• Lack of healthcare services that respect tribal customs and traditions while being culturally aware.

Limited Access to Essential Services:

• Insufficient availability of essential healthcare services, such as maternal and child health, immunization, and preventive care.
• Inadequate access to specialized care, diagnostic facilities, and emergency medical services.
• Limited awareness about health issues, preventive measures, and healthcare rights among tribal communities.

Inadequate Funding and Resource Allocation:

• Healthcare in tribal territories has only received a limited amount of funding.
• Not enough money is spent on healthcare technology, equipment, and infrastructure.
• There is a lack of funds specifically allocated to tackling tribal health issues and putting out focused initiatives.

What is the Report on Tribal Health in India by the GoI?

• The first thorough study on tribal health in India was published in 2018 by an expert group that the Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Health and Family Welfare jointly established.

Recommendations of the Report:

• Implement Universal Health Assurance under the National Health Policy (2017) in tribal areas.
• Utilize Aarogya Mitra, trained local tribal youth, and ASHA workers for primary care in tribal communities with support from the gramsabha.
• Provide financial protection through government medical insurance schemes for secondary and tertiary care.
• Introduce ST Health Cards for tribal people living outside scheduled areas to facilitate access to benefits at any healthcare institution.
• Under the National Health Mission, implement a tribal malaria action plan in areas with a high tribal population.
• To lower infant and child mortality, strengthen home-based newborn and child care (HBNCC) programmes.
• To combat malnutrition, strengthen Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and improve food security.
• Create a Tribal Health Index (THI) and publish a report on the condition of tribal health every three years.
• Organise the Tribal Health Directorate, Tribal Health Research Cell, and National Tribal Health Council as the supreme bodies at the federal and state levels, respectively.

Way Forward

• Addressing the discrepancy in indigenous groups' health-seeking patterns and access to healthcare.
• Recognising and appreciating the services that tribal communities' traditional healers give.
• Empowering tribal groups to make wise decisions regarding their health through health literacy programmes.
• Putting into practise targeted recruiting and retention tactics to draw medical professionals to tribal areas. And improving connection by making investments in the construction of road networks, transportation infrastructure, and communication networks.

 

 

Prelims

Q1. Every year, a month long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/ tribes? (2014)

(a) Bhutia and Lepcha

(b) Gond and Korku

(c) Irula and Toda

(d) Sahariya and Agariya

Ans: (b)

Q2. The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to (2015)

(a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes

(b) determine the boundaries between States

(c) determine the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats

(d) protect the interests of all the border States

Ans: (a)

Q3. Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void? (2019)

(a) Third Schedule

(b) Fifth Schedule

(c) Ninth Schedule

(d) Twelfth Schedule

Ans: (b)

Q4. If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it? (2022)

(a) This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.

(b) This would create a local self-governing body in that area.

(c) This would convert that area into a Union Territory.

(d) The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.

Ans: (a)

Mains

Q. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (2017)

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