Nutritional status of tribal children in India: An overview

Tribals are one of the most vulnerable groups in India. In spite of various kinds of policies and programs they remain the most excluded and live  in miserable conditions due to various factors such as geographical  isolation, poor healthcare delivery systems, beliefs and customs. Exclusion from development has adversely affected the tribal children. An amalgamation  of factors such as socio-economic condition  i.e., poverty, high illiteracy,  absence of safe drinking water, poor sanitary living conditions  and lack of  awareness contributes to dismal health conditions among the tribal population  in India. The health status and  quality of life can be improved by focusing on  all the determinants of health, as it has been proved that health is not only  a function of medical care but it is determined by the cultural traditions, economic, social and political organizations of the society.