A study of nutrition among tribes - a project in collaboration with Azim Premji University

Tribal communities in India are at a lower rung of social hierarchy. They have been deprived and discriminated on almost on all fronts. They are also ‘at risk’ of under nutrition. H D Kote of Mysore district is a backward taluk in Karnataka. It accounts for a considerable percentage of the State’s tribal population.

Malnutrition is a significant contributor to child mortality and its effects on tribal is even more acute. The findings of the project can help the government in improving its reach and impact of the programme.

• The nutritional profile of students, based on social sub-groups and the dietary intake of children and families.
• The household decision making process with respect to health and food choices.
• To identify possible interventions to enhance access, availability and affordability of nutritional food and disseminate this knowledge among communities, key policy makers and programme implementer's at senior levels of the government.

In phase 2, nutrition related interventions will be carried out among selected households and changes in food and nutrition status will be observed. Based on the findings of the two phases of the study, further steps would be decided. The first phase of the project has been completed and the collected data is being analysed. The implementation strategies for the second phase of the study are being planned.