Millet and health issues of women and children

Since 2013 Attapadi Taluk in Palakkkad district has been known as one of the hot spots of infant mortality. Malnutrition and other health related matters of tribal mothers are being blamed. In this context, the Kerala government has begun “Attapadi millet village scheme” in 2017.It has multifaceted goals – improve the health of tribal women and children, ending infant mortality death, ensure livelihood with better price for millet they produce.

Death count decreases

Due to the cultivation of millet, food cultures of tribal people were also changed. Millets were turned to be one of the essential items of their food. Its impact has been reflected in infant mortality in Attapady. Death counts put forth by the Kerala Health department shows a drastic decline of infant mortality deaths in Attapadi. In 2013, 31 infant deaths were reported in Attapadi. Last year – in 2022- , the count was 12.

There are many reasons for the decrease of infant deaths in Attapadi. We cannot fully attribute millet as the sole reason for the success. Nonetheless, millet oriented food system of mothers and newborn babies has unequivocally improved their health, according to Tribal Speciality hospital, Kottathara, Attapadi

Health issues due to neglect of millet

Situation in tribal dominated Wayanad district in Kerala is totally different. Unlike Attapadi, here none of the tribal community has been cultivating millet. And millet used to be absent from their cuisine. None other than tribal mothers are blaming their “new generation food culture “which lacks millet. Age old women are having a different story. They said, still they are sustaining only due to the millet cuisine they had eaten during the early days of their lives.

Caution about anaemia

Though Kerala being placed in a better position in health indicators, lifestyle diseases are being alarmingly spiked.

To find out the gravity of anaemia in Kerala, Kerala Health department has conducted a survey among 97,753 people. Survey pointed out that 1% among them was found anaemic and 21% were moderately anaemic 

“Need of the hour is to adhere to millet as an essentiality in cuisine. Millet can resist many diseases” said by Ms Veena George, Kerala Health Minister

This article was first broadcasted in Kairali News on July 09, 2023