- Information
on programmes to improve health and nutritional status
of the Malaiyali tribe
of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India
- Programme:
Improvement of Health, Diet and Education of the Malaiyali
tribe of Kolli Hills
- Programme:
Vegetable Cultivation
Information on
programmes:
Improving the Health and Nutritional Status of the Malaiyali tribe of
Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India
Target Area:
Kolli Hills is a major mountain range in the Namakkal District of the
Eastern Ghats. It covers an area of 600 sq. km. The Malaiyali hill tribe
(35,000 people living in 250 hamlets) now almost exclusively inhabits
this area. In the recent past, people of the plains were afraid of going
to the hills as they assumed the deaths, which took place due to diseases
like Malaria, Plague and Dengue fever, were caused by some evil spirits.
That is why the hills are called Kolli (Killer) Hills. There were no treatment
facilities whatsoever at that time.
Target group:
- An average Malaiyali
tribal family earns less than Rs. 750 (15$) per month, (poverty level
Rs. 1,000/- (21$) per month).
- Personal possessions
are minimal.
- About 60% of the
families are in debt and under stress of loan repayment.
- Living conditions
are below average. 68% own their rather meagre houses. Only 1% has a
toilet in the house or compound.
- Drinking water is
from wells, which are a dug pit of around 20 feet deep and 5 feet wide
and unprotected.
- Primary health care
facilities are inadequate. The availability of medicines, whether allopathic
or traditional, is poor.
Objective of Programmes:
Improving the health
and nutritional status of the Malaiyali Tribe and to make
them part of the mainstream society.
Programme : Improvement
of Health, Diet and Education of the Malaiyali
tribe of Kolli Hills
Problem Definition:
The problems of the Malaiyali Tribals are inter-related and can be classified
under health, nutrition and education.
Health Problems:
- Lack and high cost
of health care. Also no awareness of PHC
- Contaminated drinking
water and presence of water borne diseases
- Disuse and neglect
of herbal and traditional medicine
- No family planning
and no attention paid to women's health
- Superstitions involving
health, women and evil spirits
Nutritional
Problems:
- Malnutrition - shortage
of vegetables in a diet of rice and pepper water only
- Low income, mainly
from agriculture. No off-farm employment.
- Old-fashioned agriculture
practices and land degradation.
- Social
problems such as alcoholism, infanticide, and polygamy.
Educational Problems:
- Low education level
of children and adults. Inadequate schooling facilities, like staff
and teaching materials. Polytechnic opportunities absent
- Lack of education
in land development, off-farm activities, environment, and government
development schemes
- No
saving habits
Programme Objectives:
- Good primary health
care facilities are available
- People are well fed
- Proper schooling
is available in Kolli Hills
Programme Activities
- PRAs
- Vegetable cultivation
- Supplementary education
- Cultivation of a
model nursery
- Cultivation of medicinal
plants
- Improvement of drinking
water
- Watershed management
- Primary Health Care,
doctor's visit and medicines
Programme period:
3 years
Donor:
(still to be funded)
 Programme:
Vegetable Cultivation
Problem Definition
- A health survey and
a lab study of the haemoglobin levels in the blood of especially women
and children revealed the level at 7% without exception.
- Diet consists of
rice and pepper water and very occasionally fish, meat or vegetables.
- Lack of awareness
by women about a healthy diet
Programme Objectives:
- Improve nutritional
status especially of women and children and prevent deficiency diseases
- Organise woman round
a common activity
- Generate an additional
source of income for the people
- Change the land use
pattern
Programme Activities
- 10 women from each
village trained as cultivators
- Along with vegetables,
medicinal herbs will be grown
- Vegetable seed supplied
to the women
- Training in use of
herbal medicine to cure minor ailments
Results
- A Model garden has
been established
- Women organised in
groups
- Seed money is given
- Training on vegetable
cultivation is performed
- Also preparation
of food in a nutritious manner. Use of fruits and leaves is explained.
- Distribution of carrots
as a snack to school children
Programme Period:
6 months
Donor:
Liesbeth van Brink, Bennekom, The Netherlands
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