11-November-2024-Special-Article

TRIBAL POVERTY & MANGO KERNEL TRAGEDY

In Odisha’s Kandhamal district, the tragic deaths linked to mango kernel consumption highlight the severe livelihood challenges faced by tribal communities.

Forced by poverty, food scarcity, and lack of resources, many tribal families turn to foraged foods like mango kernels despite the associated health risks.

Mango kernels contain cyanogenic glycosides such as amygdalin, which release toxic hydrogen cyanide, posing serious health risks if consumed.

Why Tribal Communities Depend on Unsafe Food Sources for Survival

Severe Poverty:

• Widespread poverty forces tribal communities to rely heavily on wild and foraged foods.
• According to the Multidimensional Poverty Index, 65 million out of 129 million tribal people in India live in multidimensional poverty.

Food Insecurity:

• Geographic isolation, poor infrastructure, and logistical challenges hinder access to regular and nutritious food supplies.
• Limited reach of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), in tribal areas exacerbates the issue.

Malnutrition:

• Many tribal families lack access to essential staples like grains, pulses, and fortified items.
• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) reports high malnutrition rates among tribal children, with 40.9% stunted, 23.2% wasted, and 39.5% underweight.

Loss of Forest Rights:

• Tribals traditionally relied on forests for their livelihood through wild food gathering and subsistence farming.
• Displacement, deforestation, and restricted land access have pushed these communities deeper into poverty.

Economic Exploitation:

• Many tribals are forced to mortgage welfare cards, like ration cards, to local moneylenders for short-term relief.
• This practice deprives them of government benefits, leading to deeper financial instability.

Survival in Extreme Conditions:

• During severe poverty, food shortages, and seasonal droughts, tribal families resort to unsafe foods as a survival mechanism.

Insufficient Institutional Support:

• Programs like the Odisha Tribal Development Project (OTDP) and UNICEF’s Household Food Security Project have shown limited impact in remote tribal areas, with outreach challenges in isolated locations.

Government Initiatives for Tribal Welfare

1. Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN)
2. Janjatiya Gaurav Divas
3. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra
4. PM PVTG Mission
5. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
6. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

Strategies to Improve Tribal Livelihoods

• Public Distribution System (PDS) Innovations: Expanding PDS to include nutritious staples like pulses and oils can address nutrition gaps. Door-to-door PDS delivery could improve food access in remote tribal areas.
• Enhanced Access to Community Forest Rights (CFR): Community Forest Rights can enable tribes to sustainably harvest and manage minor forest produce (MFP).
• Fair Market Prices for MFP: Providing fair prices for MFPs like honey, tamarind, wild mushrooms, and mango kernels is essential for economic self-sufficiency. TRIFED can assist tribal producers in reaching broader markets, ensuring they receive fair compensation.
• Financial Protection: Regulating microfinance practices can prevent exploitative lending, protecting tribal communities from debt cycles.
• Leveraging Lessons from Past Initiatives: Learning from past programs, like the Odisha Tribal Development Project, can guide more effective future strategies.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaboration between district administration, local governance, non-profits, and civil society can build community resilience.
• Value Addition to Minor Forest Produce: Processing MFPs, such as using mango kernels in confectionery, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, can diversify tribal income streams.

Conclusion

The tragic deaths from consuming mango kernels highlight the critical livelihood challenges facing tribal communities in Odisha. Tackling poverty, food scarcity, and economic exploitation through enhanced forest rights, equitable market access, focused government support, and effective partnerships is crucial for sustainably empowering these tribal populations.

Mains Question:

1. “Discuss the socio-economic factors driving unsafe food practices among tribal communities in India and evaluate government interventions aimed at improving their livelihood security.” (150 WORDS)