Health and Education Among the Tribes of Assam Problems and Prospects

Abstract

Health and education are the two most important factors of human wellbeing, and primary parameter of its development. In India, Despite Govt relentless effort, health and human development indicators of Scheduled Tribes lag behind national averages. Compared to its pre independence condition, there has been some improvement for STs in case of reducing morbidity or mortality rates and reducing risks of ill health among ST populations in India. But still the gaps remain wide despite huge investments in Tribal development programs. The situation is same in case of educational status .In a way education and health both are inter related also , because better health allows individuals to attain a better education and more education can lead to better health and hygiene habits. So the Government policies to increase education might also be effective at improving health among the tribal population and vice versa. Keeping this fact in mind TRI, Assam organized a seminar on Health and Education among the tribes of Assam Problems and Prospects in Diphu Government College on 12th and 13th October 2001. This particular volume consist of the 15 papers presented in the seminar out of which 6 papers dealt with the health issue while rest of the 9 papers emphasized on educational matters. Community health education looks at the health of a community as a whole, seeking to identify health issues and trends within a population and work with stakeholders to find solutions to these concerns. The papers on health discussed on of health issues like traditional healers, problem of malaria in Karbi Anglong district, attitude of the tribals towards modern treatment, traditional dietary habit of the tribals and problem of health and hygiene. The papers on education covers the issue like attitude of the tribals towards modern education, problem and prospect of higher education in Karbi Anglong, impact of parental care etc.