Gaps in the Wellbeing of Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Tribal sub plan, though, has a monitoring system in place, the nodal agency and Tribal welfare department do not have an authority over other departments and hence co-ordination and implementation at the ground level suffer. Gaps were visible at all the levels among the tribals as compared to other groups. Chronic energy deficiency of BMI level among women and men is the highest for Scheduled tribes compared to other social groups. Average heights of men and women of 15-59 show that scheduled tribe women and men have the lowest average height compared to others. Underweight and wasting incidence is highest among the scheduled tribe children in Andhra Pradesh. Both the adults and children appear to be undernourished among the scheduled tribes. Poverty rate was very high among tribal population, at about 31%, while it was very much lower at 11.6% for the state. This is a very big gap. The literacy rates among the Scheduled tribes have improved since 2011 due to the universal education drive and school enrollments undertaken. Despite the enactment of forest rights in 2006, the 2011-12 national sample survey data shows highest incidence of poverty among the scheduled tribes. The improvement in house ownership for scheduled tribes is due to the construction of houses under house construction schemes such as Indira Gandhi Awas Yojan under Congress government, NTR housing scheme under Telugu Desam, and YSR, housing scheme in the present government. Despite the effort to build houses for the poor, scheduled tribes benefited less compared to other social groups. Sanitation is an important aspect of welfare and the NFHS-4 shows that the evidence of sanitation in India is rather distressing. Information, available on habitat infrastructure from the perspective plan document of the Department of tribal welfare indicate that progress was made with respect to electrification, but the drainage connections and internal roads within the habitations were neglected. Scheduled tribe population will be at a disadvantage due to their low nutritional status. Though the lifestyle diseases are low for scheduled tribes, compared to other social groups, as the Covid-19 spreads, Scheduled Tribes will be most affected. Poor physical infrastructure also could act as a bottleneck, increasing the risks. The health insurance coverage is lower for the scheduled tribes. Prevalence of Anemia among women and men belonging to scheduled tribes is the highest in the state. Scheduled tribe children appear to have highest incidence of neonatal mortality, infant mortality and maternal mortality, compared to other social groups. Diarrhoea incidence is high among scheduled tribe children, compared to other social groups.