A sizeable section of Odisha’s particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) suffers from anaemia, affecting 37% of adult men and over 53% of adult women, while indicators such as blood pressure and random sugar levels point to an early onset of metabolic risks, according to a Utkal University study released on Monday (July 20, 2026).
“The growth, nutritional, and health profile of Odisha’s PVTGs reflects a complex interplay of undernutrition, emerging lifestyle changes, increasing metabolic risks and persistent health inequities,” says the study.
According to University, the interdisciplinary study covered 10 of Odisha’s 13 PVTGs,- the Bonda, Didayi, Dongria Kandha, Kutia Kandha, Juang, Paudi Bhuiya, Hill Kharia, Mankidia, Lodha and Lanjia Saora communities across the tribal-dominated districts of Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Mayurbhanj and Gajapati. Researchers had surveyed 9,222 individuals from 2,041 PVTG households.
The study released by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati says there is high prevalence of anaemia among adult male members of the PVTGs in Odisha, highlighting significant intra-group differences and a moderate overall anaemia burden.
“Out of 1,015 adult males studied, 36.95% were anaemic, indicating that over one-third of this population suffers from nutritional deficiencies or underlying health conditions that affect their haemoglobin levels. Among the tribes, the Mankidia (59.18%) and Bonda (56.30%) men exhibit alarmingly high rates of anaemia, significantly surpassing the overall average,” it finds.
“A severe nutritional challenge, potentially linked to limited dietary diversity, poor iron intake, recurrent infections, or parasitic infestations, has been identified. The Lodha [47.32%] and Lanjia Saora [39.26%] males also show increased levels of anaemia, indicating an urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions and improved access to healthcare,” the study finds.
“This report is exactly the kind of evidence-based, field-rooted research a university should be producing. It gives policymakers a clear, current picture of where our PVTG communities stand — their strengths as well as their vulnerabilities,” said Chandi Prasad Nanda, Vice Chancellor, Utkal University.
“Anaemia in more than half of adult women, high childhood stunting, and a home-delivery rate of 59% tell us that basic maternal and nutritional care is still not reaching these communities consistently,” Prasanna Kumar Patra, Coordinator, Centre of Excellence in Studies on Tribal and Marginalised Communities (CoE-STMC).
“Considering the high cultural diversity among the communities, although many of the difficulties and needs of the tribal people are largely similar, a single, one-size-fits-all solution is not useful. There is a need for PVTG-specific and culturally sensitive development plans to address their issues around education, livelihood. language revitalisation and health,” Subhendu Kumar Acharya, scientist, ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar.
“The alarming prevalence of stunting among female adolescents across 10 PVTGs in Odisha is concerning. The overall prevalence is 50.74%, indicating that more than half of all female adolescents in the surveyed PVTG communities are affected by chronic undernutrition. This figure is even higher than that of their male counterparts.,” the study finds.
“Among PVTGs, the Hill Kharia shows the highest stunting prevalence at 82.76%, a distressing figure that signifies a critical public health emergency. Following closely are the Paudi Bhuiyan at 72.73% and Juang at 53.49%, where more than half of the adolescent girls are stunted, suggesting long-standing nutritional deprivation during their formative years,” it adds.
The study says, “these statistics point to an urgent need for targeted interventions focused on adolescent girls, including school-based nutrition programs, anaemia control measures, and reproductive health education.”
Researchers highlight that the overall prevalence of thinness, indicative of acute undernutrition, is 30.88%. This statistic suggests that nearly one in three male adolescents is affected by poor nutritional status, likely due to chronic food insecurity, erratic dietary habits, and limited access to adolescent health services in tribal areas.
“Among the tribal groups, the Didayi (48.15%), Lodha (44.74%), Hill Kharia (40%), and Bonda (36%) show alarmingly high rates of thinness, highlighting widespread acute malnutrition. These communities urgently need nutritional interventions, especially adolescent-specific meal programmes and active nutritional monitoring,” they point out.
Published – July 21, 2026 03:32 am IST