Reducing Mortality and early pregnancy among the Paharia tribal community through malnutrition management and Health Management in Godda district of Santal pargana, Jharkhand

Extremely Poor health and nutrition amongst adolescent girls in the primitive Pahari a  community under Godda, Pakur and Sahebganj district of Jharkhand has been noticed also due to rampant child marriage(72%) practice and childbearing (50% of 72 %) at very young age causing complications and even infant and maternal deaths in frequent manners.

 Cases of girl child trafficking (10-15%), sexual abuse (20-34%), unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence and atrocities and economic exploitation (by outside money lenders) are quite common among adolescent girls of tribal and other community lives in the vicinity. Non-participation of PRIs, Mata samities, traditional but constitutionally recognized BAISI, Kishori Samuh and other CBOs in decisions concerning adolescents and their issues among the community systems.

Large sections of adolescent girls in communities are school drop-outs (50%) after primary schooling or even before that. Menstrual hygiene management is another issue which has been affecting the health and hygiene of adolescents for generations. There are lots of govt programmes with the local govt schemes meant for adolescents and their families which are not accessing properly to these women. The local educational and health institutions also are not providing space for the communities, especially the adolescents, which must be addressed properly.

Creation of active Kishore Samuhs (10-15 adolescent girls per group) in each village under the project area. Selection and training of adolescent volunteers from KS in each village on the (above-mentioned) adolescent empowerment module. Holding Dhumkudia-the traditional way to protect the community from reproductive health issues. sessions to revive traditional methods of imparting knowledge related to sexual & reproductive health, education and nutrition security to adolescents. Periodic BMI health and nutritional check-ups for Adolescent girls. Besides the above community safety net on child protection issues would be created through the strengthening of adolescent forums and groups along with the local village child protection committees and traditional gram sabhas in the localities. Ctraing alternative nutritional management as a model basis (nutrition garden, nutrition bank, food menu changes and frequency food improvement etc)and its replication among the community .certain bridge course centres would be established to initiate education for PVTG adolescents to go to the schools and also continue the education. Besides this the identification and linkage of adolescents and their families to the local govt programmes through a convergence process using the traditional Gramsabha rights as got through Indian constitutions. Community-based monitoring would be initiated with the preparation of an adolescent empowerment plan with the local govt.

Improved nutritional status and education, improved behaviour and practices related to sexual and reproductive health, reduced child marriage (to 30%), and related unintended pregnancies (10%) among adolescent girls. Safe, caring and enabling socio-cultural environment for adolescent girls through traditional governance mechanisms (Baisi) and PRI. Increased convergence of government schemes and leveraging of government resources on adolescent empowerment and development. Reduced mortality among the adolescents and mothers along with creating safe villages for the adolescents. The reduction in intergenerational malnutrition and early marriage pregnancy among the PVTG adolescents with increased school enrolment and reduced drop out with an increased level of adolescents in higher education. Creating a sensible community-based organisation towards adolescent education, protection and nutrition issues with strong gatekeeping of the village-based child protection committees.