Tribal Child Nutrition and Health in District of Sundargarh: A Public Health Review of ICDS Intervention

Abstract

The district of Sundargarh, Odisha, predominantly occupied by Orang tribal communities, even before independence, Sundargarh has presented a complex Landscape of Public health Challenges, particularly concerning scheduled tribes’ children’s nutrition and their health. “The region’s tribal population is often marked by socioeconomic vulnerabilities, poor access to healthcare, and traditional lifestyles that contribute to high levels of child malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality”. In response to these pressing issues, the Government of India launched the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) was launched on 2nd October 1975 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development as a flagship welfare programme aimed at improving the scheduled tribe tribal health, malnutrition, and early education of children aged 0-6 years, with special focus on marginalized groups of Bisra Block of Sundargarh district, Odisha, The studies of public health reviewed and explored the effectiveness of ICDS interventions in addressing nutritional and health concerns of tribal children in Sundargarh. It examines the outreach and impact of services provided through Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), such as supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-ups, and referral services. Despite several policy initiatives and resource investments, gaps persist in implementation and access. Through this study seeks to understand and highlights the gaps while assessing important program's and to contributing for enhancing the child wellbeing in tribal setting-up for the feature national health indicator of the Sundargarh district, and to recommend measures for improving the health and nutrition outcomes among tribal children in the district of Sundargarh.