Dietary intake and nutritional status of tribals in Odisha Dr. Pothal Siba Prasad*, Dr. Panda Bijaya Kumar** *Senior Lecturer in Economics, TMSS Women¶s Degree College, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. Email id: siba.pothal@gmail.com **Former Professor and Head, P.G. Department of Economics, Berhampur University, Berhampur, Odisha, India. Email id: bkpandabu@gmail.com Online published on 10 October, 2018. Abstract The present study examines the dietary intake and the nutritional status of the tribals (Scheduled Tribes) in Odisha by using dietary and nutrient intake, and anthropometric methods. Using secondary data collected from sources like National Family Health Survey reports, Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletins, Repeated Survey on Diet and Nutrition conducted by National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB), National Sample Survey (NSS) reports, etc., the study attempts to assess the level and the degree of malnutrition among the tribals in general and tribal women and children in particular. The study reveals that (i) the tribals of the state have a long history of chronic hunger, food insecurity and unhygienic living conditions, all of which have a direct bearing on their quality of life and wellbeing, (ii) there exist significant regional and gender disparities in the dietary intake and the nutritional status of the tribals in the state, and (iii) tribal infants, pre-school children, and pregnant and lactating women are the most vulnerable to malnourishment and malnutrition. Top Keywords Dietary Intake, Nutrition, Odisha, Quality Of Life, Tribals, Wellbeing. Top |