By: KARAN MOHAN THAKUR
Marginalized tribal communities live in remote locations, away from mainstream communities, and are deprived of development due to separation. A study on the Gond tribes of Madhya Pradesh, India, investigates how livelihood vulnerabilities affect the health outcomes of Indigenous people in Barkhera village. Livelihood vulnerabilities like economic instability, poverty, lack of access to basic healthcare facilities, lack of education, and malnutrition impact health outcomes and overall well-being. Changes in livelihood practices among the Gonds of Sagar correlate with health outcomes. A survey of 215 village respondents using a questionnaire and random sampling technique gathered data. The findings suggest that the Indigenous people of Barkhera village lack basic facilities, which negatively impacts their livelihood and overall well-being, exposing them to diseases, malnutrition, mortality, and morbidity. However, the government has implemented several policies and programs for improving their livelihood and health outcomes, including the National Rural Health Mission, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Further efforts are needed to ensure the effective implementation of these programs through continuous monitoring and evaluation for the equitable and sustainable development of the Gond tribes.
