ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR - SBI), in collaboration with Anamalai Tiger Reserve, organized a ‘Tribal Health and Nutrition Awareness Campaign’ for the tribal communities of Karattupathy and Thippippaarai settlements in Tiruppur district on May 12, 2026, under its DAPSTC (Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribe Component) project.

Presiding over the programme, Dr D. Puthira Prathap, Principal Scientist & Nodal Officer of DAPSTC, stated that the Institute has been implementing need-based interventions for the holistic development of tribal communities in Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu, and Palakkad district of Kerala since 2021. He informed that more than 1,500 households belonging to eight tribal communities, namely Malasar, 'Malamalasar', Oorali, Kurumbar, Malayali, Irular, Mudhuvar and Eravallar, have benefitted from the initiative so far.

Highlighting ‘anaemia, malnutrition and sickle-cell anaemia’ as the three major health concerns among tribal populations, Dr Prathap noted that ICAR-SBI has been distributing kitchen garden vegetable seeds, liquid jaggery and millet seeds as locally adaptable interventions to improve household nutrition. The present awareness campaign was organized based on a recent needs assessment conducted by the Institute in the two tribal settlements.

Delivering the felicitation address, Shri V. Pugazhenthi , Range Officer, Amaravathinagar, appreciated the sustained efforts of ICAR-SBI towards tribal welfare since the inception of the project in 2021 in six settlements of the Pollachi division under Anamalai Tiger Reserve. He particularly commended the Institute for conducting regular follow-up programmes in the settlements.

Tribal representatives, Shri Karuppusamy of Karattupathy settlement and Smt. Vellaiyammal of Thippippaarai settlement expressed that the campaign had enhanced community awareness on women and child health issues. They also acknowledged the support extended through distribution of several useful items such as smokeless stoves, farm tools, institute-produced liquid jaggery and tarpaulins.

Dr Hari Eshwar, MD (General Medicine) , PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore, conducted an interactive session on preventive healthcare and nutrition.

Dr Saraswathy Eswaran, Former Professor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, trained the participants in the preparation of nutritious millet-based recipes and encouraged tribal women to undertake value -addition and marketing of millet products through Self-Help Groups. Dr R. Gopi , Senior Scientist, ICAR- SBI, conducted a technical session on mushroom cultivation.

More than 200 tribals took a pledge against malnutrition and reaffirmed their commitment towards improving the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women in their communities.

Earlier, Shri Senthil Murugan, Forester, ATR, welcomed the gathering, while K. Mohanraj, Principal Scientist, ICAR-SBI proposed the vote of thanks.

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TV/SH

 

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