Impact of Alcohol on Maternal Health and Gender Based Violence among Displaced Tribal Communities in India Presented by Madhulika Sahoo and Dr. Jalandhar Pradhan Department of Humanities and Social Sciences National Institute of Technology, Rourkela National Seminar on Population and Health in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals January 11-13, 2017 IIPS and NCDS, Bhubaneswar, ODISHA

Introduction The consumption of alcohol is part of social rituals in many tribal communities in India. It is socially acceptable to consume alcohol both men and women in tribal communities. MoTA Government of India (2014), found that the prevalence of alcohol consumption among Scheduled Tribes (ST) is higher in the eastern state such as Assam (70 percent), West Bengal (70 percent), Odisha (69 percent), Chhattisgarh (67 percent), Jharkhand (67 percent) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (66 percent) and Andhra Pradesh (66 percent). Conti..

Study by ICMR (2014) found that Alcohol consumption among tribal women have found decline of fertility and low birth weight, it has a major risk factor for neonatal and infant mortality as it hinders immunity and makes them prone to infections. Alcohol is also associated with birth defects and development disorders. A study carried out by National Commission for Women in India (2004), on the impact of development induced displacement on women reveals that violence against women and alcoholism are the direct outcome of development induced displacement in India. Study has also found that the alcoholism, low literacy and poverty are all responsible for violence against women in tribal areas

Objective and Methodology Objective: To address the impact of alcohol on maternal health and the growing gender based violence due to alcohol consumption in displaced tribal communities. Methodology: Qualitative study design was used to conduct the study among the development induced displaced people from Simlipal and Chandaka wildlife sanctuary in Odisha and Achanakmar wildlife sanctuary in Chhattisgarh, India. Focused group Discussion (FGD) (6 FGD) and in-depth (12) interview techniques were used to collect the data from displaced tribal women and the healthcare service providers.

Selection of the respondents Women respondents delivered children in last five years’ time within the age group of 15-49 years was selected by using purposive sampling method. Villages displaced from the wildlife sanctuary IDPs living in six different rehabilitation colonies Displaced women given birth in last five years 15-49 years

Results Increase consumption of alcohol among male and female members After displacement it was found that the consumption of alcohol has been increased in the rehabilitation colonies. One of the common responses to the increase consumption of alcohol was that of the easy availability of foreign liquor after relocating to the rehabilitation colonies. Majority of the women had little knowledge about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on their babies or even general health Conti..

The Baiga believe that they are known by the consumption mahua liquor (country liquor). Some Hill Kharia and Kolha women says “Drinking alcohol is now become our habit and it keeps our body cool and free from body aches. We cannot stop drinking even while pregnancy” women in FGD Increase number of infant mortality rates and abortions High level of alcohol consumption among tribal women leading to still birth and miscarraiges Babies born to women consuming alcohol during pregnancy has low birth weight (LBW), a major risk factor for NMR and IMR Conti..

Increase domestic violence The service providers in the rehabilitation colonies says the frequent consumption of alcohol has led to still birth and abortion in case of Baiga, Hill Kharia and Kolha women. Increase domestic violence The domestic violence in the family has increased after displacement. The men and women are found to be shifted from agricultural work to manual labour occupation. Lack of money results in not having enough food in the home, or the inability to buy medicine when children become ill. Conti..

c) Women and their family members described responding to heavy drinking with arguments, rebukes or threats. d) Joblessness is higher among women than men. Since women used to collect forest produces before displacement now they depend on single income of men in the family. e) Men spend a part of their income on alcohol. One of the result is rise in domestic violence “The consumption of alcohol has increased after displacement, this is becoming problem now. My husband takes alcohol almost every day he hit and abuses me”. A 22year old Baiga woman

Conclusion The Land Acquisition Resettlement and Rehabilitation (LARR) act 2013 the only national law for the development induced displaced people in India does not give reproductive health care protection to the displaced women if attention could be given to the policy itself then displaced tribal women can get opportunity to avail their health rights. Special awareness program for the displaced tribal women can reduce alcohol consumption and accessing the modern maternity services. Note: This is just the preliminary findings, still in the process of data analysis

A glance from field

Reference Common wealth health partnership. Health rights: Indigenous women must not be left behind. http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/11-Health-rights-Whall.pdf. 2014. Accessed: 4 December 2016 National Family Health Survey 3 (NFHS) http://rchiips.org/nfhs/pdf/Orissa.pdf. Accessed: 8 December 2016 Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) High level of committee on socio-economic, health and educational status of tribal communities in India, Government of India http://www.kractivist.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Tribal-Committee-Report-May-June-2014.pdf. 2014. Accessed: 10 December 2016

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