New Delhi: The government is planning to
rope in health and nutrition experts to study living pattern
of tribals, including Jarawas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
in an effort to reduce their susceptibility to diseases.
Observing that the immunity of tribals and forest
dwellers in the country is an area of concern, Tribal Affairs
Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo said that "utmost
importance" should be given to their health needs.
Replying to a question on various tribes being
susceptible to epidemics and genetic disorders, Deo said,
"Basically, they would need to be immunised and probably the
medical experts and anthropologists will have to study and
tell us how they existed all these years and what needs to be
done now."
Probably they (tribals) have their own medicines to deal
with their diseases, unless some new disease have appeared in
their areas, he added.
"I think utmost importance should be given to that area
to ensure that their immunity increases. Probably nutrition is
another thing which can do this and their existence," the
minister said.
Tribal population in India is located in various states
such as Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Jharkhand, West Bengal, Mizoram, and other northeastern
states, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Maximum tribal population density is found in areas of
North East and faraway Union Territories such as Andaman and
Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, February 12, 2012, 15:12