More than half of Odisha’s PVTG adult women anaemic, says a study by Utkal University
According to a Utkal University study published on Monday, July 20, 2026, a large section of Odisha’s particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) suffer from anaemia, affecting over 37% of adult males and over 53% of adult females; Indicators such as blood pressure and random sugar levels point to the early onset of metabolic risks.
“The growth, nutrition and health profile of Odisha’s PVTGs reflects the complex interplay of malnutrition, emerging lifestyle changes, increased metabolic risks and persistent health inequalities,” the study says.
According to the university, the interdisciplinary study covered 10 of the 13 PVTGs of Odisha: Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Mayurbhanj and Bonda, Didayi, Dongria Kandha, Kutia Kandha, Juang, Paudi Bhuiya, Hill Kharia, Mankidia, Lodha and Lanjia Saora communities in tribal-dominated areas. Gajapati. Researchers surveyed 9,222 individuals from 2,041 PVTG households.
The study, released by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, says the prevalence of anemia among adult male members of PVTGs in Odisha is high, highlighting significant intra-group differences and a moderate overall burden of anemia.
“Of the 1,015 adult males examined, 36.95% were anemic, indicating that more than a third of this population suffers from nutritional deficiencies or underlying health problems affecting hemoglobin levels. Among the tribes, Mankidia (59.18%) and Bonda (56.30%) males exhibit alarmingly high rates of anemia, significantly exceeding the overall average.”
“A serious nutritional problem has been identified, potentially linked to limited dietary diversity, poor iron intake, recurrent infections or parasite infestation. Lodha [47.32%] and Lanjia Saora [39.26%] “Increasing levels of anemia are also seen in men, indicating an urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions and better access to healthcare.”
Chandi Prasad Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University, said: “This report is exactly the kind of evidence-based, field-based research that a university should produce. It gives policymakers a clear and up-to-date picture of where our PVTG communities stand, their strengths and weaknesses.”
Prasanna Kumar Patra, Coordinator, Center of Excellence for Tribal and Marginalized Communities Research (CoE-STMC).
“Given the high cultural diversity across communities, although the challenges and needs of tribal people are broadly similar, a one-size-fits-all solution is not useful. PVTG-specific and culturally sensitive development plans are needed to address issues related to education, livelihood, language revitalization and health,” Subhendu Kumar Acharya, scientist, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Center (RMRC), Bhubaneswar.
“The alarming prevalence of stunting among teenage girls in 10 PVTGs in Odisha is alarming. The overall prevalence is 50.74%, indicating that more than half of the adolescent girls in the surveyed PVTG communities are affected by chronic malnutrition. This figure is even higher than their male counterparts,” the study said.
“Among PVTGs, Hill Kharia shows the highest prevalence of stunting at 82.76%, a distressing figure that points to a critical public health emergency. It is closely followed by Paudi Bhuiyan at 72.73% and Juang at 53.49%, where more than half of adolescent girls are stunted, indicating long-term nutritional deprivation during their formative years,” he adds.
“These statistics point to an urgent need for targeted interventions focused on adolescent girls, including school-based nutrition programs, anemia control measures, and reproductive health education,” the study says.
Researchers highlight that the overall prevalence of wasting, which is indicative of acute malnutrition, is 30.88%. This statistic shows that almost one in three male adolescents is affected by malnutrition, possibly due to chronic food insecurity, disordered eating habits, and limited access to adolescent health services in tribal areas.
“Among tribal groups, Didayi (48.15%), Lodha (44.74%), Hill Kharia (40%) and Bonda (36%) show alarmingly high rates of wasting, highlighting widespread acute malnutrition. These communities urgently need nutritional interventions, especially adolescent-specific meal programs and active nutritional monitoring,” they point out.
It was published – 21 July 2026 03:32 IST
