Alarming Anaemia Rates Among Odisha’s PVTG Women

When researchers from Utkal University crunched the numbers, the picture that emerged was hard to ignore – more than half of adult women belonging to Odisha’s particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) are anaemic. The figure, 53.2 %, sits side‑by‑side with a 36.9 % anaemia prevalence among adult men, signalling a silent health crisis that has been brewing under the radar.

The interdisciplinary team trekked through seven tribal‑dominant districts – Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Mayurbhanj and Gajapati – to interview 2,041 households, covering 9,222 individuals from ten distinct tribes. These included the Bonda, Didayi, Dongria Kandha, Kutia Kandha, Juang, Paudi Bhuiya, Hill Kharia, Mankidia, Lodha and Lanjia Saora. The sheer scale of the fieldwork was meant to capture the nuanced health profile of communities that are often lumped together.

‘The growth, nutritional, and health profile of Odisha’s PVTGs reflects a complex mix of undernutrition, emerging lifestyle changes, rising metabolic risks and persistent health inequities,’ the study’s lead author explained. In plain language, the people are caught between lingering poverty‑linked deficiencies and the early signs of diet‑related disorders such as high blood pressure and elevated random blood sugar levels.

Digging deeper, the data revealed stark intra‑tribal differences. Among men, the Mankidia (59.2 %) and Bonda (56.3 %) recorded the highest anaemia rates – well above the overall male average. Women fared even worse: the Hill Kharia women showed the most severe stunting – a harrowing 82.8 % – while the Lubha and Bonda women also crossed the 50 % mark for anaemia.

What lies behind these numbers? Researchers point to limited dietary diversity, poor iron intake, recurrent infections and parasitic infestations that sap the body’s ability to maintain healthy haemoglobin levels. Add to that the creeping influence of processed foods and sedentary habits, and you have a perfect storm for both under‑nutrition and the early onset of metabolic disease.

The study’s findings were presented to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who called the results “a public health emergency that demands immediate, targeted action.” The call to action is clear: strengthen nutrition‑specific interventions, improve access to clean water and sanitation, and boost community‑based health monitoring to catch metabolic risks before they spiral.

While the numbers are stark, they are not immutable. Local NGOs, state health departments and tribal leaders are now being urged to collaborate on culturally appropriate nutrition programmes, iron‑fortified supplements and regular health check‑ups. The hope is that, with a concerted effort, the next generation of PVTG children will grow up healthier, taller, and with a lower risk of chronic disease.