Socio-Economic and Nutritional Status Evaluation among the Irular Women of Tamil Nadu

Nutrition always remains as an important marker that attributes towards the health status of any population. It plays a crucial role in human health and well-being, despite higher economic growth, improvements in human development indicators like nutrition levels of the population have been unacceptable very slow, even in scheduled Tribe which constitute about 8.6 percent of the total population. In this study, an attempt was made to study the socio-economic and nutritional status among the Irular women of Tamil Nadu. As in general, an appeasing image may appear about the Irular tribe, but a closer look shows us a different image. It is due to their geographical isolation and poor socio-economic condition, which affects the attributes towards better nutrition and makes them vulnerable to under nutrition. Analysis in present study was based on a 201 Irular women of Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu sample of 18 to 49 years of age The study reveals the socio-economic and nutritional status among the Irular women was quite unfavourable as mean BMI of 35.4 percent women was found to be <18.5 (Chronic Energy Deficiency) i.e. Underweight. The overall food intake was very poor as per the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). In conclusion, the study suggested that there is need to take immediately some strong steps both from government as well as from non-government side to protect and uplift the people of Irular tribe.