Abstract Panel


Authors Information
SequenceTypeName TitleFirst NameLast NameDepartmentInstitute / Affiliation
1 Author Ms. Kalpna Beniwal Centre for the Study of Regional Development Jawaharlal Nehru University
Abstract Information
TrackID
:
IUAES23_ABS_X7248
Abstract Theme
:
P005 - Anthropology of Nutrition as a Mega-Discipline: Fieldwork, Language and Archive
Abstract Title
:
Child Undernutrition and Tribal Communities: Major Trend and Possible Determinants in Southern Rajasthan
Short Abstract
:
South Asia, despite its rapid development, has the highest number of malnourished children globally. Over 30% of stunted children are found in Asia alone. India, ranked 94 out of 107 countries in the 2020 Global Hunger Index, lags behind its neighbors, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Despite policy interventions, undernutrition remains a grave issue in India. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have a higher proportion of undernourished children. This study analyzes child undernutrition in Southern Rajasthan using three rounds of NFHS data (2005-06 to 2019-21). The region characterized by unproductive land tracts and water scarcity is part of India's mass deprivation group of the central states in terms of stunting which also happens to share a major proportion of the tribal population of India.
Long Abstract
:

Despite being amongst the fastest growing developing regions, South Asia houses largest number of malnourished children in the world where more than 30 percent children under stunting are found in this region only. India, ranked 94 out of 107 countries in 2020 Global Hunger Index is lagging behind its neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh. Despite various policy interventions & programs the situation of undernutrition is still dismal in India. The difference is clearly visible across social groups with Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribes having higher proportion of Undernourished Children. 4.7 million tribal children in India suffer from chronic nutrition deprivation while constituting only 8.6 % of the nation’s total population. The present study is an attempt to analyze the trend of child undernutrition by using three rounds of NFHS data (2005-06 to 2019-21) in Southern Rajasthan. Rajasthan, among the other central Indian states constitutes mass deprivation group in terms of stunting which also happen to be a region with the largest proportion of tribal population. A major share of the tribal population inhabits the southern part of Rajasthan which is primarily surrounded by the Aravalli Mountain range. The area is characterized by unproductive land and a high level of water scarcity. People residing in this part are primarily engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and out-migration in search of unskilled labor. Tribes residing here, have a higher incidence of undernutrition.

 

 

Abstract Keywords
:
Tribal Communities, child Undernutrition, NFHS, Determinants, Southern Rajasthan