Nutritional Status of Tribal and Non Tribal Children of a Slum in Jagdalpur (Bastar), India

Research Question: The menace of ignoring girls, peculiar in north and north-west regions, has now extended to entire country.

Material Methods: One hundred eleven children (Tribal 46 and Non Tribal 65) of both sexes belongs to zero to six years of age of a slum in Jagdalpur (BASTAR) tribal heart land of India were included in the study. Their weight for age was considered as an independent criterion for judging the status of girl child in comparisons to their male counter parts. Statistical Analysis: was expressed in terms of simple proportion and Chi - square test. Findings on comparison of age for weight in both tribal and non tribal community, an insignificant difference were noted for all age group of children.

Interpretation: This all indicate that community had been uncaring towards girl child.

Recommendations: (i) A new curriculum with objective of "mindset about gender perspectives must be changed" will have to be evolved for the school going children. (ii) Fees-free girl education (have knowledge be prosperous) i.e. voluntary payment of fee from primary to the highest degree level including technical education and be mandatory up to 14 years of age, without discrimination on account of caste, Religion, economic and social status etc. With special provision to the families comes under poverty line, for compensation as incentive for wages, the girl suppose to earn during her study period, must be made an integral and permanent part of all policies either proposed or going to be proposed for the progress and empowerment of the girls, (no amount is high enough to achieve the noble task of the progress and empowerment of the girls). (iii) As per trusteeship principle of the father of the nation "Mahatma Gandhi" the affluent class of the society, voluntary come forward to bear these expenses for this noble task.