New Delhi, Feb 20 (PTI) The government will launch a national-level project on Wednesday for health screening and management through ayurvedic interventions which will benefit over 20,000 tribal students.
The Ayush Ministry, in partnership with the Tribal Affairs Ministry and the National Institute of Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur, aims to screen the general health condition of students enrolled in classes six to 12, a statement said.
The screening will be done in 55 selected Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 14 states, with a special focus on anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, malnutrition and tuberculosis.
Efforts will be made to instil healthy lifestyle practices among students according to ayurvedic principles, with an integrated approach to disease management.
The intervention will be carried out by 16 peripheral units of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ayush Ministry, Government of India and ICMR-National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ayush Ministry and the Tribal Affairs Ministry in October 2022 to explore areas of collaboration for tribal development.
The CCRAS has developed 72 Poshan Vatikas in EMRSs across 20 states. CCRAS Institutes have participated in mega health camps during Janajati Mahotsav at Saraikela in Jharkhand.
Despite commendable efforts, tribal health in India remains a concern, with obstacles hindering successful healthcare delivery to underserved populations.
The tribal population of the country, as per the 2011 census, is 10.43 crore, constituting 8.6 per cent of the total population. Moreover, 89.97 per cent of the tribal population live in rural areas and 10.03 per cent in urban areas.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) provide quality education to tribal children in remote areas, with a focus on academic education, all-round development, and good health.
Currently, there are 401 functional EMRSs across the country with state-of-the-art facilities for quality education, sports, and skill development. PTI PLB GVS NSD NSD
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