Tribal women in Tamil Nadu’s Vilankombai seek food kits amid malnutrition concerns

Women in Vilankombai, a tribal settlement within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), have appealed to the Tamil Nadu government for monthly food relief kits, pointing to increasing malnutrition, changes in traditional dietary practices, crop damage caused by wildlife, and inadequate access to healthcare services.

The hamlet, home to 45 families of the Urali tribal community, comes under Kongarpalayam panchayat in the T.N. Palayam block of Gobichettipalayam taluk. Residents said curbs on forest access and falling agricultural output have considerably impacted their customary food habits, resulting in nutritional deficiencies, especially among women.

“For generations, we relied on forest produce and locally grown millets to meet our dietary needs. Now, we are unable to raise ragi and other millets on our 105 acres because of recurring crop damage by wild animals such as elephants and wild boar,” said a resident. Frequent destruction of crops has discouraged cultivation and curtailed the availability of traditional, nutrient-dense foods, she noted.

According to residents, the move away from iron-rich traditional foods has contributed to an increase in anaemia among women. Several families have been compelled to depend on less nutritious food alternatives, which has affected the overall health of the community.

Healthcare access

Access to healthcare continues to be a pressing concern. With no medical facilities in the interior forest region, residents have to travel to Kongarpalayam for primary treatment. The trip involves navigating a 7-km forest route, crossing four streams that supply water to the Gunderipallam reservoir, and covering an additional 3 km to reach the nearest hospital.

Women in the settlement highlighted that the Karnataka government has been supplying monthly food relief kits to tribal communities to tackle malnutrition and strengthen food security in remote areas. The kits generally contain essential commodities such as ragi, rice, jowar, pulses, Bengal gram, ghee, and cooking oil.

They emphasised the need for comparable assistance in their region, along with steps to safeguard crops from wildlife and enhance healthcare accessibility. “Such measures would significantly improve the nutritional status and overall welfare of tribal families,” said S.C. Natraj, director of the Sathyamangalam-based NGO Service Unit for Development Activities in Rural (SUDAR). He added that residents of other hill regions in the district similar challenges and called for comprehensive government intervention.

Recently, S. Annadurai, Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, visited the settlement, during which residents brought these issues to his attention. He assured them that appropriate action would be initiated to resolve their grievances.