. Health, Education And Information

. Health, Education And Information With Special Reference ToTribal Societies Of India
Alok Chantia
Lecturer (Anthropology)
JNPG College,
Lucknow.
A health system consisting of a set of relationships among institutions, social groups and
individuals directed towards maintaining and improving the health status of a population
is a part of the social system. The main goal of a health system is to improve the health
status of a population, which is measured by indicators such as mortality, morbidity,
longevity, mental state, etc. The health system is linked to other subsystems of the social
system such as culture, economy, politics, education, technology, etc. Thus the health
status of a population depends not only the functioning of the health system but also on
the contribution of other sub-systems.
Health is to be seen, not merely in terms of curing a disease but as an indicator of the
level of social, cultural, environmental development of a society. Therefore it needs to be
viewed from a holistic perspective instead of a clinical perspective.
In the light of Alma-Ata declaration in which, India was a signatory in 1978, it
pronounced health as a fundamental human right and defines it as a stage of complete
physical, mental and social well being. (WHO-UNICEF 1978)
In this regard Dhankut are very far from this fundamental human right, i.e., health.
Dhankut is a social group of district Bahraich. Every district gazetteer is silent about
them. Government is not giving them certificate due to absence of their name in
government records. They are not listed as SC/ST/OBC till today. No previous research
work has been done by anyone else except me.
The absence of caste stratification lead to their isolation, poverty, poor economy, etc. Due
to this negligence, this group is purely unhealthy in the frame definition of WHO. A great
number of albinos, impotent men and sterilized women are present among them. Sociocultural
life of the albinos among them is very degrading, living as dead human beings. In
the social structure their position is zero. 120 out of 715 couples are either victims of
impotency or sterility. Marriage has no meaning among them. Their life stops after
marriage. Hygienic and sanitation problems are deeply associated with them. Due to their
social status and strata they are socially and mentally unhealthy. In this situation this
group is an unhealthy group, with respect to their social, mental and physical level, which
produces a contrasting image to that of the definition of health given by WHO.
Recently, Supreme Court has given a decision about tribal ritual and customs in the case
of Dr. Surajmani vs. Durga charan (42) ALR –847, which is associated with health
problem. So this point can not ignore when we are discussing the problem of health.
Another important factor, which is directly concerned with health and education, is
Tribalization. It is increasing day by day in tribal societies especially in the polyandrous
society of U.P. where govt. declared the tribal group according to their custom, which is
increasing many health problems.
Education increases people’s awareness about the need of medical assistance and brings
out political consciousness to demand medical services from the government. The
example of the state of Kerala, is an example of the impact of relationship of primary
education and health, but economy also plays a vital role in the spread of education.
Among the Dhankut, only 13 people are high school and intermediate qualified. None
among the total of 2687 are graduate qualified. It is very difficult task for them to take
education when any government scholarship or any financial assistance is unavailable
due to their uncertainty about their caste and social stratification. Female literacy may
play a vital role in the improvement of health, but female status is very low among the
members of this group. When they are not in a position to avail education for males, how
can they think for females?
Information technology is a prime factor in the propagation of any government
programme and this helps in the health improvement programme, but it is not true for
Dhankut.
In an independent country where “health for all by 2000 AD” is a slogan for welfare of
humankind. Every man is associated with caste or government list as SC/ST/OBC, but
the picture of Dhankut’s life produces a negative picture. In my proposed paper for the
symposia, I will discuss health in the light of the following points:
1. Education
2. Economy
3. Social status (caste stratification)
4. Mental status (feeling, emotion, attitude, etc)
5. Role of information technology
Which will clear the confusion about Dhankut. Life wants identity and identity comes
at social, mental and physical level.