Tribal school students to get nutritious food

Tribal school students in Adilabad district will have a surprise of sorts waiting for them once they rejoin their educational institutions after Dasara vacation. The menu in their schools will include honey, the forest produce which Adivasi children relish most but which has gone scarce as a result of decimation of forests.

The food served to tribal children in hostels managed by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor, has now become the focus of a study aimed at inducting changes in the menu in order to improve the overall health of the students. All the changes which are on the anvil will be implemented October onwards, according to the ITDA Project Officer R.V. Karnan.

Nutrition, or lack of it, plays a key role in all problems related with health of Adivasis in the agency area in the district. This is a good reason for incorporating changes in the menu of school students numbering about 45,000 studying in 152 Ashram High Schools, Residential Schools, mini Gurukulams and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

It has been observed that Adivasi children shun certain vegetables like potatoes which constitute an alien food item for them.

They are however, comfortable eating other kinds like beans and some leafy vegetables which are usually grown in their homes back in the villages.

“This is why we are handing over the work of supply of vegetables to local self-help groups. The groups will also be supported by the ITDA in raising kitchen gardens and backyard poultry,” Mr. Karnan revealed of the efforts being made to improve health of tribal children.

The ITDA has, in fact, been trying various food items to be served in its educational institutions since the last six months.

“These items have been tried based on the nutritional needs and preferences of the children,” the Project Officer observed.

For example, students liked the multigrain biscuits. “We also want to cut down on rice and provide a better balanced diet,” Mr. Karnan added.

The impending changes will also see iron tablets being administered to Adivasi students, especially the girls, with lemon juice. This is aimed at improving the haemoglobin content in the blood of the children.