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Home/Anthropology/Mains PYQ/2024/Paper II/Tribal Problems & Displacement
UPSC MainsAnthropology Optional Paper II 2024 10 Marks Model Answer Available

Causes of Stunting and Wasting Among Tribal Children — 2024 Paper II

Question · 2024 · Paper II · 10 Marks

Causes of stunting and wasting among tribal children

Model Answer

VAID ICS

Introduction

Stunting refers to low height-for-age and indicates chronic undernutrition, while wasting refers to low weight-for-height and reflects acute nutritional stress. Among tribal children, these are not merely medical problems but outcomes of poverty, ecological displacement, food insecurity and weak service delivery.

Magnitude

NFHS-5 shows that malnutrition among Scheduled Tribe children remains higher than the national average. This reflects a persistent tribal nutrition gap, despite constitutional commitment under Article 47 to raise the level of nutrition.

Major Causes

Loss of traditional food diversity Tribal diets earlier included millets, tubers, leafy vegetables, fruits, fish, small animals and minor forest produce. Land alienation, forest restrictions and displacement have reduced access to these foods. Dependence on PDS cereals improves calorie intake but often fails to address micronutrient deficiency or “hidden hunger.”

Ecological displacement

Mining, dams, deforestation and wildlife conservation projects disturb tribal livelihoods and forestbased food systems. Anthropologically, this weakens the tribal cultural ecology and the nature- man-spirit relationship.

Maternal undernutrition

Anaemia, early marriage, repeated pregnancies and poor antenatal care produce low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction. This continues the intergenerational cycle of stunting.

Disease ecology

Malaria, sickle cell disease, diarrhoea, worm infestation and respiratory infections are common in many tribal belts. Repeated infections reduce appetite and nutrient absorption, creating an infection-malnutrition cycle.

WASH deprivation

Unsafe water and poor sanitation cause diarrhoea and environmental enteric dysfunction, which reduce nutrient absorption even when food is available.

Seasonal migration

Distress migration disrupts Anganwadi services, immunisation, supplementary nutrition and growth monitoring, especially during the first 1000 days of life.

Governance gaps

Remote hamlets, hilly terrain, poor transport and shortage of local health workers create last-mile exclusion from ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan and health services.

Cultural-linguistic barriers

When nutrition counselling is not given in the tribal language or ignores local food habits, trust declines and Infant and Young Child Feeding practices are poorly adopted.

Consequences

Stunting affects physical growth, cognition, school performance and future productivity. Wasting increases vulnerability to disease and child mortality. Thus, tribal malnutrition weakens both health and human capital.

Way Forward

Restore food diversity

ICDS and school meals should include local millets, pulses, eggs, leafy vegetables, tubers and minor forest produce. Tribal-centric service delivery Recruit local tribal women as Anganwadi workers and ASHAs. Use mother-tongue communication and flexible services for migrant families. Focus on mothers and adolescents Prioritise anaemia control, delayed marriage, antenatal care, birth spacing and nutrition during the first 1000 days. Integrate health and nutrition Nutrition programmes must include malaria control, sickle cell screening, deworming, immunisation and safe drinking water.

Strengthen resource rights

Effective implementation of PESA and Forest Rights Act, 2006 can restore access to forests, minor forest produce and community food systems.

Community participation

Gram Sabhas, tribal councils, women’s groups and traditional healers should be involved in nutrition awareness and monitoring.

Conclusion

Tribal child malnutrition is a socio-ecological injustice, not only a dietary deficit. Reducing stunting and wasting requires food diversity, maternal care, disease control, land rights and culturally sensitive nutrition governance.

2026 Make a critical appraisal of Niyamgiri movement against mining-induced displacement. 2026 Write an account on the prevalence of sickle cell disease among the tribal populations of India. What are the initiatives undertaken by the affected states to tackle with this disease? 2026 What are the major challenges tribal communities are facing in contemporary India? 2025 Examine the environmental and biocultural factors influencing the health of tribals of India.

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