FOOD AND HEALTH STATUS OF SCHEDULED TRIBES IN VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Ecologically, the tribal households are far from homogenous; they display a diversity of high order. The areas of tribal concentration have been generally described as the forest and hilly areas of the country. Their ignorance and the long- sightedness of the money lenders play with the tribal lives. With less income they take less nutrient food and it leads to health problems among scheduled tribals. This paper addresses the food and health status of scheduled tribes in the study area. Expenditure on food takes the major share of expenditure followed by paying interest on loans and medical care. The average intake of food items in the sample population of Visakhapatnam District is not up to the suggested level. This malnutrition may be one of the causes for their high disease prevalence in the study area. The disease prevalence rate for females in the total sample is around 28 per cent. Malaria and general fevers are widely prevalent in the study areas. Most of the scheduled tribes do not agree to take modern medicine (Allopathy), and they are reluctant to accept it. Most of the women did not consult doctors when they need. In this regard, the government should initiate the tribals the importance of the medical care.