Why Protein is good for Korku Tribe?

Korku tribal children are the worst victims of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) in central India. PEM is a major public health problem in India, and it affects the child in the most crucial period of development, which can lead to permanent impairment in later life. It adversely effects in developing brain which leads to tissue damage and tissue contents, growth arrest, developmental differentiation, myelination, reduction of synapses, synaptic transmitters and overall development of the dendritic activity.

Caritas India Sabal programme is intensively promoting the benefits of protein intakes by increasing the quantity of meat, fish, egg, and oil in the diet of these tribal. Even it has scientifically been proven that the animal protein tends to be the best sources of protein for human beings compared to plant-based protein sources which lack one or more essential amino acids.

Government enforcement and the prohibition on fishing in tribal areas even in the rainy season on flimsy reason and rumours on deaths due to accidental consumption of tadpoles considering fishes has led to a decline in fish catch. The superstitions and myths spread by the tribal priest and healers linking malnutrition with fish, meat and other animal protein consumption had led the Korkus to refrain themselves from completely giving up the fishery activities.

In the last 3 years, Caritas India Sabal team have been continuously conscientizing the community about the benefits of protein to fight malnutrition. Various advocacy initiatives were launched and timely submission of memorandums for initiating fishery activities in the community ponds with the support of collectives has led to subside Government restriction on fishing. More than 23 applications were submitted by 16 Sabal collectives during various Gram Sabhas demanding fishing rights in community ponds. The collective of Navalgaon had voluntarily bought and released fish seeds in the community ponds after realization of the benefits of fish consumption.

More and more Korkus are now consuming fishes & crabs in their daily family platter from different water sources such as ponds, rivers and the desilted check dams during the food for work initiatives. It has been recorded that 1292 korku families are fishing during this monsoon season and feeding their children, pregnant and lactating mothers.