Socio-legal perspective of maternity health of tribal women: A case study of Budhal, Rajouri A
- Kashmir Journal of Legal Studies
- 10(1), Jul, 2023: p.133-142
The constitution of India recognized the special state of tribal people – the scheduled tribes and provides safeguards to protect their rights and culture. Since the start of the 11th five year plan, a series of development initiatives have been made by the Government of India to improve and strengthen services in the public health system. Though it has been long seen the tribal people have poor health and unmet needs in the area of health as remained subsumed in rural health care. Their different terrain and environment, different social systems, distinct culture, different health needs have not been addressed appropriately till now. There have been serious efforts in the area of maternal health by providing cash incentives to increase institutional child birth and overall care for mother and child under differ schemes. Unfortunately, the outcome of such efforts has not been satisfactory. This paper is based an exploratory study in ten villages of Budhal, District Rajouri, Jammu. The paper is focused on a): evidences and experiences on present maternity health of tribal women; b): the health care delivery system available for maternity health; c): the darkness of knowledge and information regarding affirmative action / schemes / provisions and support mechanism available to tribal women of research area. The methodology included in-depth interviews with women, traditional healers and formal Health Care providers and outreach workers, observations from the community and Health functionaries & health facilities available in soundings. Group discussions with concerned respondents has also support the qualitative finding of the research. Despite a series of health initiative / intervention / programmes and schemes available to the tribal population still immense difficulties women face due to unmet needs of pregnant women, lack of faith in the system, lack of knowledge and poor implementation of the schemes. There is also darkness of knowledge and information regarding. Reproduced