Nutritional and Health Status of Rural Farm Women in Tehri Garhwal Disrtict of Uttaranchal State

Rural farm woman who is involved in extensive work on fields for about 12 hrs daily is exposed to all the risks of ill health, poor nutrition , inadequate care and non-existence rights. As the head of the household she is expected to procure treatment for her children and herself without adequate resources or control. In a study conducted on 250 rural farm families it was observed that 51% of women were found to be suffering from anaemia and among these 6.3% had severe anaemia. About half of the women suffered one or the other symptom indicative of reproductive tract infection or pathology. Majority did not get additional food during pregnancy. It was found that inadequate and improper nutrition does not commensurate with her workload and physiological needs during pregnancy and lactation. The main reasons for poor health status were illiteracy, poverty, improper health and hygiene, lack of time, overburdened with work, lack of facilities, considered as downtrodden by the society and not given due empowerment. World has woken up to the ecological linkages between the mountain and low-lying areas. But what often goes unrecognized is the fact that it is the woman who is the de facto natural resources manager in the hills- more than men.