Tribal Communities in Koraput Improved Nutrition and Health

Source: The post Tribal Communities in Koraput Improved Nutrition and Health has been created, based on the article “The transformation of Koraput’s tribal food basket” published in “The Hindu” on 21st February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Context: The article discusses how the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation helped tribal communities in Koraput improve nutrition. Through training and community action, people grew diverse crops, improved diets, promoted hygiene, and demanded government support, leading to better food security and health.

Why is Koraput Facing a Nutrition Crisis?

1. High Undernutrition Levels: 43% of children under five are stunted, and 33% are underweight (NFHS-5, 2019-21).
2. Poor Diet Quality: Only 17% of children receive an adequate diet.
3. Widespread Anaemia: More than 50% of women are anaemic.
4. Limited Crop Diversity: 71% of households earlier cultivated only 2-3 crops.
5. Lack of Awareness: People did not focus on dietary diversity. Many ate either dal or vegetables, not both.
6. Government Schemes Not Fully Effective: Feeding programs exist, but community action was needed for real change.

How Did the Community Start the Transformation?

1. Starting the transformation: The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) initiated a community-based nutrition literacy program between 2013 and 2022 aimed at empowering tribal communities in Koraput.
2. Assessment and Awareness: The program began by assessing the nutritional status of women, children, and adolescents. This data was then shared with the community to raise awareness about their health issues.
3. Training Program: Selected men and women underwent residential training on key nutrition concepts such as a balanced diet, Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices (IYCF), and the importance of dietary diversity.
4. Community Engagement: Training included activities like group discussions, role-playing, and analyzing the current situation which encouraged a dialogue about the community’s own social, cultural, economic, and political contexts.
5. Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: Participants learned to diversify their agriculture to include crop diversity, backyard poultry, and pisciculture, aiming for better food security and nutrition.

What Were the Results of the Programme?

1. More than 200 men and women from 70 villages were trained as community leaders. Over 1,000 people received training in agriculture, animal husbandry, and pisciculture.
2. Crop diversity increased from 4 to 9 varieties in many households.
3. More than 60% of households started cultivating 4-5 crops (earlier, only 2-3).
4. Home gardens operated for 7-9 months (earlier, only 5 months).

How Did Women Play a Key Role?

1. Spreading Nutrition Awareness: Women champions worked with ASHA and Anganwadi workers to educate villagers on balanced diets and hygiene.
2. Ensuring Better Diets: They gave their children leafy vegetables, fruits, pulses, and eggs to fight anaemia, as seen in Sanya’s case.
3. Monitoring Government Schemes: They checked the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) feeding programme.
4. Demanding an Anganwadi Centre: In Lecha village, women passed a resolution and followed up with officials until the centre was built.
5. Reviving Community Grain Banks: They helped restart local food security systems.

What Is the Overall Impact?

The project created a strong community resource base for nutrition security. People improved their diets, revived traditional farming, and ensured government support. Now, they aim to make Koraput’s villages hunger-free.

Question for practice:

Discuss the role of community participation in improving nutrition and food security in Koraput.