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GROWING UP IN DIVIDED SOCIETIES
JUNE 10th -11th 2010, QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
CALL FOR PAPERS

Call For Abstracts:  Proposed Volume Assessing The Progress of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Africa

2009 is the 20^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on 20^th November 1989. To date, it is the world’s most widely and most rapidly ratified international convention. Although it was hoped that the Convention would mark the beginning of a new way of dealing with children, turning this landmark treaty in international law into reality in the past 20 years has been a journey full of pitfalls.

It is these challenges that have faced this ‘landmark’ Convention from its earliest days that make it crucial to produce a volume which takes stock of the progress of the Convention viz a viz the vision on which it was founded. In this process of taking stock of the Convention’s achievements and challenges, Africa presents an important focus for two primary reasons: 1) African governments were amongst the very first to ratify the Convention, with Ghana being the first in February 1990; 2) it consists of the world’s youngest populations, with young people under the age of 15 comprising half of the continent’s 500 million inhabitants. It is hoped that through country-based in-depth examinations of the implementation of the Convention, this volume will provide critical analysis of the progress of the Convention and identify concrete ways forward for the better implementation of this treaty in the various social, cultural and political contexts that exist in Africa.

Therefore, the editors of this proposed volume are looking for papers that will enable us to assess the progress of the Convention in terms of policy and practice and its impact on the lived experiences of children in different African societies. 

The editors of this proposed volume are Dr. Afua Twum-Danso, The University of Sheffield (UK), and Dr. Nicola Ansell, The University of Brunel (UK)

Please submit abstracts of between 300 and 500 words to Afua Twum-Danso (a.twum-danso@sheffield.ac.uk) by Monday 30^th November 2009.

Dear readers,

here you find the current issue of our newsletter, which was published in september.

Dear Readers,

Attached you find the last newsletter issued february this year.

THREAT OF MATERNAL HEALTH IN INDIAN SOCIETY: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC APPROACH

 Dr. Subhash Chandra Verma

Senior Lecturer

Department of Sociology

Government Post Graduate College, Rudrapur-263153, INDIA

(Affiliated to Kumaon University Nainital, INDIA)

Tel.- 0091 5944 243474, Cell. Phone- 0091 9411195542

Email- subhashvermaphd@yahoo.com

Abstract

This research paper deals with the problem of maternal health care in different segments of Indian societies. Vast difference is found in availing health facilities in different Social & Economic groups. There are many social, cultural and economic groups existing in Indian society simultaneously .Their standard of living and awareness varies according to their socio-economic status. There is very poor status of maternal health in rural and backward areas. This study is based on data of third National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3). Data have been analyzed with the help of related other literature. Maternal health care is studied in different groups of the Indian society such as Residential status, Cast, Economic status, Educational status etc. The study revealed that poverty, illiteracy, lack of communication and transportation are responsible for poor maternal health status in Indian rural society. In India a woman dies in child birth every 5 minutes…Indian accounts for more then 20 % of global maternal and child deaths. There are more requirements for improving maternal health care in Indian society. Government of India is trying to increase maternal health care with help of Third sector but situation is not so favorable.

______________________________________________________________________________

­­­­­­­­­­­­­Key Words

 Maternal Health, Third Sector, Cast, Group, Class, Poverty, Illiteracy, Rural, Urban, Birth, etc.

Introduction

 There are many social, cultural and economic groups existing in Indian society simultaneously .Their standard of living and awareness varies according to their socio-economic status. There are two major parts of population in India 1- Rural Communities (70%) and 2-Urban communities (30%). Rural communities have lack of Economic, Educational progress. Indian society has four major social classes 1- General Casts, 2- Scheduled Cast, 3-Other Backward Cast, and 4-Schedualed Tribes. Every class has various social, economic and educational statuses; these are reasons of various status of awareness. Rural and Backward communities have not more awareness about Education and Health. Every class has different figure of health awareness. Same situation apply on matter of maternal health care in Indian society. Apart from household wealth status, educational level of individual women, religion, and cast have been shown to affect the uptake of maternal health and delivery services. Additionally parity, the experience of previous problems, actual need and traditional views of childbirth are all important in determining the care that a woman may ultimately receive at delivery (Matthews 2002) Third National Family Health Survey (NHFS-3) has been conducted in 2005-2006 by International Institute for Population Science, Mumbai it is supported by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India with great help of UNICEF, USAID, DFID, UNFPA and AVAHAN. Technical assistance for NFHS-3 was provided by Operation Research Group (ORC), National Aids Control Organization (NACO). NFHS-3 collected more information about health care and awareness in various social- economic classes of Indian society. We can say that this survey has been conducted with help of Third Sector.

 Indian government and NGOs are trying to encourage awareness about Health and education in these rural and backward communities, but at least there is no enough progress in this matter. Health department of Indian government has not enough infrastructures for best health services that are why there are more needs of Third Sector Role. Promotion of maternal and child health has been one of the most important objectives of the Family Welfare Programme in India.  The current Reproductive and Child Health Programme (RCH) was launched in October 1997.  The RCH Programme incorporates the components covered under the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme and includes an additional component relating to reproductive tract infection and sexually transmitted infections.  In order to improve maternal health at the community level a cadre of community level skilled birth attendant who will attend to the pregnant women in the community is being considered.

             The need for bringing down maternal mortality rate significantly and improving maternal health in general has been strongly stressed in the National Population Policy 2000.  This policy recommends a holistic strategy for bringing about total intersectoral coordination at the grass root level and involving the NGOs, Civil Societies, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Women’s Group in bringing down Maternal Mortality Ratio and Infant Mortality Rate. Reduction of maternal mortality is an important goal.  The Department of Family Welfare has taken several new initiatives, during the current Ninth Plan period, to make the programme broad based and client friendly.  The focus was, accordingly, shifted from individualized vertical interventions to a more holistic and integrated life cycle approach giving more focused attention to the reproductive health care.  The Maternal Health Programme which is a component of the Reproductive and Child Health Programme aims at reducing maternal mortality to less than 100 by the 2010.  The major interventions include:

In India a woman dies in child birth every 5 minutes…Indian accounts for more then 20 % of global maternal and child deaths. (Bakshi, 2006).One of the major goals of Government of India’s Department of Health and Family Welfare is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. The focus has shifted from individualized interventions to attention to the reproductive health care, which includes skilled attendance at birth, operationalising Referral Units and 24 hours delivery services at Primary Health Centers. And initiation of Janani Suraksha Yojna (National Maternity Benefit Scheme).Improvement of maternal health is also a major goal in Millennium Declaration. UNICEF is working to achieve the international community’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that speaks directly to the rights and needs of women and children. The fifth MDG seeks to reduce maternal mortality by three quarters by 2015. The proposed framework for action has been designed and implemented to support the GOI and State governments in the acceleration of the second phase of the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme (RCH II) for the period 2004 – 2007. As one of its priority activities, UNICEF is supporting the development and implementation of Maternal and Perinatal (child death within 7 days of birth) Death Inquiries (MAPEDI) as a tool to strengthen community participation in evidence-based district-level(Bakshi 2006). Profile survey of 1994 yields an estimate of maternal mortality of 544 per 100,000 births in rural India for a period roughly 12 years before the survey. Maternal mortality ratio was more than 600 in east and north central India, while it was 300 to 400 in north-western and southern India (Mari Bhat 2007).   Improving women’s maternal health and literacy are critical to building stronger families and communities in India. Yet today twice as many women as men are illiterate. More than 100.000 Indian women die in pregnancy and childbirth each year (CEDPA 2007). USAID,s goal is to help India reduce the number of people living in poverty by half by 2015,but India’s alarming population growth  poor health. India has one sixth of the world’s population and one third of the world’s poor (USAID 2007). The earlier efforts of the government to promote balance regional development have failed to yield result. NGOs can play a crucial role in this regard, not directly but indirectly. In recent years NGOs are playing an important role in the rural development (Thimmaiya 2006). High maternal mortality rate is serious problem of India, study says that nearly 90 per cent of abortions in India are performed under potentially unsafe conditions in unapproved facilities, by providers ranging from qualified doctors to those who without any training or qualifications. About 9 per cent of maternal deaths in rural India are due to complications of abortions (Pallikadavath & Stone 2006).

Methodology

In this study secondary Data have been used. Primary survey has been conducted by Department of Health under Government of India (National Family Health Survey-3, year 2005-06). Data of NFHS-3 is the main base of this study but other related literature used also in describing of maternal health status and role of Third Sector in this matter. The National Family Health Survey-3 provided information about population, health and nutrition in India and each of 29 states. The survey is based on a sample of households which a representative at the national and state levels. That is why I used DATA of NFHS-3 for this study of maternal health care situation in India.  The Statistical Tools have been used in analysis of Data like Tables; Graph etc. Data have been analyzed with the help of related literature. The Research Design selected for this Study is Exploratory and Descriptive. Reported related literature has taken from websites, Journals etc. It’s very helpful in writing of introduction of this study. For required help available Departmental and Government’s reports have also used. Some statements are based on personal observations on related matter. Author is belonging to rural Indian society and he is working as Programme Officer in National Service Scheme also. That’s why he has Grass Root observation of rural Indian society. Some facts of this study are based on other researcher’s approach. The overall this study is explaining the real fact of maternal health care in various Indian communities.

There is very poor maternal health awareness in India especially in rural areas. Table-1 shows that rural people are very poor in maternal health care; only 42.8 per cent mothers had at least three antenatal care visits for their last birth. In urban areas this figure is 73.8 it’s more than rural but it’s not enough. In the matter of IFA (iron folic acid) 90 days dosage only 34.5 per cent mothers in urban and 18.1 per cent in rural consumed IFA dosage for 90 days or more.. Institutional birth rate is very down in rural India, it’s only 31.1 percent and in urban areas this figure is 69.4. That is why only 39.1 per cent births assisted by doctor/nurse or other trained health personnel in rural areas. People of rural society are very lazy in matter of  postnatal care, only 28.1 per cent mothers received postnatal care within tow days of their last birth, in urban areas this figure is 60.7 it means urban people are more careful in this matter. There are 70 per cent population is living in rural and 30 per cent in urban areas but maternal health care figure in rural is near to half of urban, it is mark able fact. Rural people are poor in maternal health care. Problem of convention is also responsible for this poor figure in rural areas. Rural women don’t like to eat more medicines or other related health care things. Maximum people of rural Indian society like traditional birth at home with help of traditional birth personnel. She is called as “Dai”. This may be due to fact that poverty, illiteracy, lack of transportation etc. are the main reasons for this poor figure.

There are four main social classes in Indian society approved by constitution of India scheduled cast, scheduled tribes, other backward casts, and general (also called “others” in table-2). Hindu religion has largest population in India. Scheduled cast are lower casts of Indian Hindu society, other backward casts are middle casts but these are backward in educational and economic status, General or others are high casts of Hindu society including other religious communities. In other backward casts some poor Muslims are also included. Scheduled Tribes are independent communities who living in forest and rural areas mostly. Every social class has different figure about maternal health care, table -2 shows that Generals or Others have more awareness in maternal health care and Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Casts are very poor in maternal health care. In Others or Generals maximum figures are more then 50 per cent but in SC, ST, and OBC all figures are blow 50 per cent. In the matter of consuming IFA 90 day’s dosage all communities have poor figures (Blow 30 per cent) and all communities are also poor in receiving postnatal care within 2 days after birth, this figure is blow 50 per cent in all. Scheduled Tribes have lowest figure in institutional birth because they like traditional birth procedure and care. There are many other factors (like Poverty, illiteracy, transportation problem) also responsible for this poor figure.

In the National Family Health survey-3 Indian society has divided in five main income groups, lowest, second, middle, fourth and highest. The Blow Poverty Line (BPL) people are including in lowest income group. There are maximum population is existed in lowest, second, and middle income groups in India. Table -3 shows that type of maternal health care in all groups are increasing according to economic groups. In the matter of IFA 90 days dosage every group have poor figure blow 50 per cent, in lowest income group this figure is only 9.7 this is mark able fact. This figure is near to half of all other figures. The women of all income groups do not like to take the more and regular medicines; this may be a reason for these poor figures in all groups.   In the lowest income group institutional birth figure (13.8) and postnatal care (13.3) are found to be equal. This may be due to facts that mothers who have born their child in hospital or other institution, only they had postnatal care in lowest income group. In the fourth income group figure of antenatal care and birth assistance by doctor or other health personnel are found to be equal. The reason may be mothers who had at least three antenatal care visits for their last birth only they assisted by doctor/nurse/other health personnel. Economic factor is effecting very much in matter of maternal health care in Indian society. Table-3 shows that poor people have not well and enough maternal health care but rich people are advanced in this matter. Figures of maternal health are very poor in lowest income group.

There is the positive relationship between the economic and educational groups. People who are rich they are also well educated and who are poor they are maximum illiterate or have low status of education. That is why in the table -3 and 4 have near to same figures in lowest income group 26.2, 9.7, 20.4, 13.8, & 13.3 and Illiterate group 29.8, 9.5, 27.2, 19.8, & 17.6 respectively. Same trend is also seen between highest income group and high educated class. High income groups are mostly high educated so they know about maternal health care very well. They have more communication’s systems for getting knowledge about health and care but in rural and poor communities have lack of well communication. Institutional birth rate is very down (19.8%) in illiterate groups but in well literate group this figure is high (80.6).

Role of Third Sector

India is one of those countries where existed more gap between required and available health infrastructure. The existing infrastructure is not adequate even if we take into account the Census 1991 population. The gaps within the existing infrastructure and the services both within and outside the public sector need to be addressed. (Satpathy & venkatesh 2006). The number of SCs, PHCs and CHCs required and the shortfall as per 1991 rural population and as per the projected rural population for 2002 (End of 9^th Plan), at all India level is indicated below (NCP, 2002). That’s why the role of third sector is most important for improving health services in India. In rural areas, the government delivers reproductive and other health services through its network of Primary Health Centers (PHCs), sub-centers, and other government health facilities. In addition, pregnant women and children can obtain services from private maternity homes, hospitals, private practitioners, and in some cases, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). In urban areas, reproductive health services are available mainly through government or municipal hospitals, urban health posts, hospitals and nursing homes operated by NGOs, and private nursing and maternity homes.

The private sector plays a big role in delivery of health care, catering to 46 % of hospitals inpatients and 81% of outpatients (NCMH, 2005). There are many hospitals or other health institutions are servicing under the Non-Profitable Sector in India, for example – Christian Mission Hospitals, Rotary Club Hospitals and others many. International Organizations also helping financially and morally to health programmes in India, WHO, USAID, UNICEF, CEDPA, and UNICEF are main organizations of those. As per data available with the Planning Commission, there are 12265 NGOs in the country of which 91% are involved in social sector activities- 52.75% in Rural Development (RD), 17% in Human Resource Development (HRD), 10.15% Social Justice & Empowerment (SJ & E), 6.2% in Health & Family Welfare (H & FW), and 4.8% in Youth Affairs & Sports (YA & S) (NCP, 2002).The figure shows that There are  only 6.2 % NGOs working in health and family welfare field. So we can say that there are more requirements of NGOs in health and family welfare field.

                  (Source: National Commission on Population, India Report-2002)

The National Population Policy of India-2000 Strongly recommended a holistic strategy for bringing about total intersectoral coordination at the grass root level and involving the NGOs, Civil Societies, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Women’s Group in bringing down Maternal Mortality Ratio and Infant Mortality Rate.  The UN Millennium Development Goals call for reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015.As India works toward helping the world meet this goal, MAPEDI(Maternal and Parental Death Inquiries) data will provide concrete evidence that maternal mortality should be a national health priority(Bakshi,2006). USAID has been sanctioned enough financial help for improved health and reduced fertility in India. The figures are as followed- $ 90,669,000 (Year 2004), 93,385,000 (2005), 94,218,000 (2006), and 93,366,000 (2007). USAID’s goal is to help India reduce the number of people living in poverty by half by 2015 (USAID, 2007). This may be very helpful in improving maternal health because poverty is a main reason of poor maternal health in India. Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) –India helped from the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood India (WRIA) in 1999 to bring critical attention and action to the need to make motherhood safer. CEDPA  has provided technical assistance to the Innovations in family Planning Services project, training and empowering over 16,000 female community workers to provide counseling, contraceptive services and maternal and child health information in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh(CEDPA-2007).

India’s mostly health schemes and programmes are running with great help of NGOs, Civil Societies and other Non-Profitable organizations. At present there are many schemes and programmes are conducting by Government of India under the National Rural Health Mission with help of Third Sector Role, For example- Janani Suraksha Yojna (Maternity benefit scheme). Main objectives of Janani Suraksha Yojna are Reduction in MMR & IMR and Focus of Institutional Delivery. Main features of this scheme are as followed – Encouraging Small Family Norms, Provision for Caesarean Section, Encouraging Pregnant Women to Undergo Tubectomy/Laparoscopy, Trained TBA to be Effective Link Between Field Level Health Functionary & the BPL Woman, Payment Of Incentive to Dai/ASHA,(Accredited Social Health Activists)  Fund to be Released Through State Department of Family Welfare, Benefit to be Disbursed by ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife)  through Recoupable imprest. ASHAs are playing main role in this scheme. They are working at village or community level as link personnel between people and health care centers. We can say that ASHAs are working as guide to assess the health facilities for Anti-natal care, Institutional delivery, Post-natal care and counseling on nutrition and Family Planning Services.

ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) are also main health personnel at grass root level in India. They are full filling the lack of Doctors in rural and backward areas. Government of India is providing good training and facilities for ANMs with help of NGOs & other Professional Bodies such as the Federation of Obstetrical and Gynecological society of India, the Indian Medical Association, Indian Association of Pediatrics and other many.  (Satpathy & venkatesh 2006). ANMs are government employees but mostly NGOs of health sector are getting help from ANMs working in rural areas.

It is true that there are not enough and well maternal health care infrastructure and facilities in India but after all maternal health status is improving. Table-5 shows that figures of maternal health care are increasing continuously since NFHS-1 to NFHS-3. All figures such as antenatal care, birth assistance by doctor/nurse and institutional birth, are improving in this table. Some figures are not available of NFHS-1 & 2 such as IFA 90 day’s dosage and postnatal care in this table. National Family Health Survey is most important activity for health education and research in India. It is Mark able fact that this survey has been conducted by help of Third Sector Role.

Conclusion

After overall analysis we can say that maternal health care situation is not well and enough in present but it is better than past, it means status of maternal health care is improving but very slowly. Till now India has high rate of maternal and infant mortality. Poverty, illiteracy, lack of transportation, lack of communication, lack of infrastructure, and some other problems are main reason of poor maternal health in Indian rural society. Urban communities are more aware than rural about maternal health care. High educated and rich communities are very advance in maternal health care. Third Sectors (NGOs and other civil societies) are playing a big role in improving maternal health in India but number of NGOs in health and family welfare sector (6.20 % of all NGOs) is not enough. Government conducting many health schemes for maternal health with help of Third Sector. But speed of progress in maternal health is slow. The results are showing that poor and illiterate communities have lowest figure in every type of maternal health, approximately same situation in scheduled cats, scheduled tribes and other backward casts. After analysis of results we can say that there are more needs for improving economic, educational and social status of some Indian communities for increasing maternal health awareness. There are many challenges for Government and Third Sector in field of maternal health in Indian society.

References

Bakshi, 2006 UNICEF –India report www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_33208.html

CEDPA, 2007 Report www.cedpa.org/section/wherewework/india

Mari Bhat P.N. 2007 Maternal Mortality in India: An Update (Article) Institute of Economic Growth Delhi.

Matthews Zoë 2002 Maternal Mortality and Poverty, DFID’s Resource Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Health (UK)

NCMH, 2005 Financing and Delivery of Health care services in India, National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, Background Papers Ministry of health and Family welfare, Govt. of India. Page 89

NCP, 2002 National Commission on Population, India – Report: 2002 page -8

Pallikadavath, Saseendran & William Stone 2006 Maternal and Social Factors Associated with Abortion in India: A Population-Based Study, GUTTMACHER Vol.32 Number-3 September 2006 www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3212006.html

Satpathy S k & S Venkatesh  2006 Human Resources for Health in India’s National Rural Health Mission; Dimension and Challenges, Regional Health Forum- Volume 10 Number 1, 2006

Thimmaiya,T.D. 2006 Elimination of regional disparities: Role of Third Sector( Paper presented in ISTR conference 2006 Bangkok.

USAID, 2007 USAID:India budget update June 2007  www.usaid.gov/policy/budget/cbj2007/ane/in.html

Appendix –  (Tables)

Call for Papers – Exploring Childhood Studies

The graduate students of the Department of Childhood Studies at Rutgers University, Camden invite submissions for papers and poster presentations for their first formal graduate student conference on April 9, 2010. Graduate students from all disciplines who are engaged in research relating to children and childhood are encouraged to submit proposals.

The field of childhood studies engages in both theoretical and empirical study of children and childhood within historical, contemporary, interdisciplinary, multi-cultural, state, national, and global contexts. Each combination of perspectives provides new insights into the lives of children and the families, cultures, and societies in which they are embedded. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is one of its greatest strengths and the core of its remarkable potential for scholarly advancement, but also leaves the field open for exploration and interrogation, and its borders difficult, if not impossible, to define.

In an attempt to define this emerging and diverse field, the Exploring Childhood Studies conference proposes defining Childhood Studies by “doing” childhood studies; the conference will explore the field by offering explorations within it. We seek papers from all disciplines that keep the child, children, and childhood as their central focus, providing critical thought and insight while locating them in different contexts, fields, and ideologies.

In keeping with what we believe is the essential interdisciplinary nature of Childhood Studies, this conference seeks to be interdisciplinary itself. We seek proposals from all disciplines—education, literature, economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, law, political science, history, criminology, philosophy, medicine, religion, film studies, and cultural studies—as well as interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary scholarly work.

The range of open topics within this field is as broad as the contexts of the experiences of children and childhood: war, health, rights, gender, poverty, wealth, policy, ethics, popular culture, globalization, school, family, home, sexuality, community, and representations in all modes of fiction. The field of Childhood Studies itself is open to interrogation.

Selected papers will be grouped into panels that may be based around discipline, theme, or perspective, but will demonstrate the common grounding of the papers in their mutual exploration of children and childhood studies.

Paper presentations should be limited to 20 minutes in length. Please send 250-word abstract for paper or poster presentation (specify which) and cover letter with name, current level of graduate study, affiliated university, and email address to m_modica@vfcc.edu. Include the words “conference abstract” in subject line, and include name on the cover letter only.

For further information, contact: Patrick Cox at ptcox@camden.rutgers.edu  or Anandini Dar at anandini@camden.rutgers.edu .  http://childhood.camden.rutgers.edu/

FOOD HABITS AMONG THE EDUCATED YOUTH OF THARU AND BUKSA TRIBES

FOOD HABITS AMONG THE EDUCATED YOUTH OF THARU AND BUKSA TRIBES

Subhash Chandra Verma
Department of Sociology
Government Post Graduate College
Rudrapur (U. S. Nagar) 263153 Uttrakhand
INDIA, Cell- 0091 9837084019
Email- verma.subhas@gmail.com
________________________________________________________________________

ABSTRACT

In this paper we studied about food habits of the educated Tharu and Buksa youth. 76 Tharu and 40 Buksa (total 116) youth are taken for study. At present some Tharu and Buksas youth are ignoring their traditional food and accepting some fast foods rapidly. The Tharu and Buksa people are non-vegetarians traditionally so maximum youth are non-vegetarian also. Maximum Tharu –Buksa youth use non-vegetarian food after a week. They also like milk and milk-products92.24 % youth are used non-vegetarian food; only 7.76 % youth are vegetarian. Female youth are more (15 %) than males (3.95 %) in vegetarian category. 96.05 % males and 85 % females are using non-vegetarian food normally. The Tharu and Buksas youth those are studying in cities are mostly like to eat fast foods in market. Chinese fast food Chowmin, Indian Dosa, Chat-Pakoda and other packed food are popular in Tharu and Buksas. maximum (64.66 %) youth eat fast food one time in week, 18.10 % two or three times in week and 17.24 % use it some times. Percentage of females (57.5 %) is more than male (52.63 %) in weekly and some times (7,89 %), (17.5 %) use of fast food.

Key-words: Tharu, Buksa, Food, Non-vegetarian, Traditional, fast-food

Introduction

The Tharu and Buksa are tribal and indigenous communities of the Himalayan Tarai region. Tharus and Buksas are famous for their eco-friendly culture. Four renowned researchers Risley, Knowles, W. Crooke and Nesfield are declared that the Tharu and Tharu and Buksas are mix blood tribe. (Srivastav, 1958) According to H.R. Nevill the Tharu and Tharu and Buksas s are an aboriginal race who claims royal descent. (Srivastav, 1958) The theory of Rajput origin of the Tharu and Tharu and Buksas s could not be explained on basis of serology because the Rajputs do not have Mongoloid and Dravidian physical features normally. (Majumadar, 1941) At least we can say that the Tharu and Tharu and Buksas s are Mongoloid people, or predominantly so, who have successfully assimilated non-Mongoloid physical features as well.

Historically, they were the only ones that were able to reside in the malarial jungles. Recent medical evidence supports the common belief that the Tharu and Buksas people, having lived in the swampy Terai region for centuries, have developed an innate resistance to malaria that is likely based on an unidentified genetic factor. (Kumar, 1968)
The Tharu-Buksa area has very good and more agricultural land and other natural resources for industry. Many farmers, industrialist and others are existed in this area. This is why the Tharu-Buksas are regularly in touch of other cultures and also accepting their specialties. (Acharya , 2001 ) There are many Religious missionaries are also working in the Tharu-Buksa area for converting them in their religions. Mainly the Christian and Hindu missionaries are doing conversion of the Tharu-Buksas in their faith.
The Tharu and Buksas are physically strong and fit generally because they eat healthy natural foods and they also have many traditional treatment systems. ( Odegaard, 1997 ) These people eat mostly fish, pork, chicken with more garlic, onions, ginger, Lemon etc. Fish and Rice are Populer as foods among Tharu and Buksas communities but they also used Roti, Vegetables, Milk products and more others. The Chakhna-Bhat and Machhi-Bhat are main and special dishes of The Tharu and Buksa communities. (Govila, 1959)
At present Hunting is banded in the forest so they cannot use more meat of forest animals and birds in their food, but they use more fishes in their food. At present some Tharu and Buksas youth are ignoring their traditional food and accepting some fast foods rapidly.
In this paper we studied about food habits of the educated Tharu and Buksa youth. This study is covered only educated youth of these both communities so this study has some limitations.
Methodology
Scientific research method has been used in this study and findings are presented in descriptive research design. Interview and closed ended questionnaire have been used as research tool for primary data collection. There are 116 Tharu and Buksa students are registered in Government Post Graduate College Rudrapur District Udham Singh Nagar of Uttrakhand. These all Thrau-Buksa students are taken as research universe. Details of these students are presented in able No. 1 and also presented by graph. 76 Tharu and 40 Buksa (total 116) youth are taken for study. Related literature also used in this study as secondary data sources.
Table-1

Classification of interviewed Tribal Youth

Sl.
No.
Name of Tribal community
Male

Female

Total
No. % No. % No. %
1
Tharu 52
68.42 24 60 76 65.52
2
Buksa 24 31.58 16 40 40 34.48
Total 76 100 40 100 116 100

Graph -1

Status of interviewed youth by community

Description and analysis of the data
Thinking and choice about traditional and fast-food:- Table-2 shows that maximum Tharu-Buksa youth are in favor of fast-food, 56.90 % youth think that fast-food is best though 43 % youth are in favor of traditional food. They think that it is good for their health. There is an interesting fact has been found in this table that 50 % female are in favor of traditional food and same figure is in favor of fast food. At least it seems that new and educated generation of the Tharu and Buksa communities is ignoring their own traditional food trends and accepting new food trends.

Table-2
Traditional and Fast-food by first choice

Sl.
No.

Thinking of youth about food
Male

Female

Total
No. % No. % No. %
1
Traditional food is best 30 39.47 20 50 50 43.10
2
Fast-food is best 46 60.53 20 50 66 56.90
Total 76 100 40 100 116 100

Graph – 2
Status of traditional and fast-food choice

Vegetarian and non-Vegetarian food habit:- The Tharu and Buksa people are non-vegetarians traditionally so maximum youth are non-vegetarian also. Table-3 is showing that 92.24 % youth are used non-vegetarian food; only 7.76 % youth are vegetarian. Female youth are more (15 %) than males (3.95 %) in vegetarian category. 96.05 % males and 85 % females are using non-vegetarian food normally. Due to some problems, Religious factors and effects of other cultures some youth are ignoring non-vegetarian food at present.

Maximum Tharu–Buksa youth use non-vegetarian food after a week. Table-4 show that 54.31 % youth eat non-vegetarian food one time in week, 34.38 % two or three times and 11.21 % some times. 52.63 % males and 57.5 % females use one non-vegetarian food one time in week, 39.48 % males and 25 % females two or three times in week, 15.79 % males and 17.5 % females some times use non-vegetarian food.

Table-3
Classification of youth by food habits

Sl.
No.

Category
Male

Female

Total
No. % No. % No. %
1
Non-Vegetarian 73 96.05 34 85 107 92.24
2
Vegetarian 03 3.95 6 15 9 7.76
Total 76 100 40 100 116 100

Graph-3

Non-vegetarian and vegetarian youth

Table-4

Schedule of eating non-Vegetarian food

Sl.
No.

Schedule
Male

Female

Total
No. % No. % No. %
1
Daily —– —– —- —– —– —–
2
2 or 3 times in a week 30 39.48 10 25 40 34.38
3 One time in week 40 52.63 23 57.5 63 54.31
4 Some times 6 7.89 7 17.5 13 11.21
Total 76 100 40 100 116 100

Habit of Fast-food: – As it has been stated above that mostly educated Tharu-Buksa youth are in favor of fast food culture at present. But due to economic problem they can not afford fast food everyday. Table-5 is showing that maximum (64.66 %) youth eat fast food one time in week, 18.10 % two or three times in week and 17.24 % use it some times. Percentage of females (57.5 %) is more than male (52.63 %) in weekly and some times (7, 89 %), (17.5 %) use of fast food.
The Tharu and Buksas youth those are studying in cities are mostly like to eat fast foods in market. Chinese fast food Chowmin, Indian Dosa, Chat-Pakoda and other packed food are popular in Tharu and Buksas. Due to their economic problems they do not eat fast food daily but maximum youth like it and want to eat everyday. They think that use of fast food is symbol of educated and advanced people; this is why they are ignoring their traditional food culture.

Table-5

Schedule of eating Fast-Food

Sl.
No.

Schedule
Male

Female

Total
No. % No. % No. %
1
Daily
2
2 or 3 times in a week 14 18.42 7 17.5 21 18.10
3 One time in week 50 65.79 25 62.5 75 64.66
4 Some times 12 15.79 8 20 20 17.24
Total 76 100 40 100 116 100

Use of Milk and milk-Products:- Milk and its products are popular in the Tharu and Buksa communities. This is why the youth of these communities are also like milk and milk-products. Table-6 reveals that 18.97 % youth are used milk and its products daily. 34.48 % two or three times in week and 11.21 % some times use milk and milk-products. 18.42 % males and 20% females daily, 34.31 % male and 35 % females two or three times in week, 13.16% males and 7.5 % females some times use milk and its products. Percentage of females is more than males in this category so we can say that women are more aware than male in use of milk and its product.

Table-6
Schedule of using Milk or Milk-products

Sl.
No.

Schedule
Male

Female

Total
No. % No. % No. %
1
Daily 14 18.42 8 20 22 18.97
2
2 or 3 times in a week 26 34.21 14 35 40 34.48
3 One time in week 26 34.21 15 37.5 41 35.34
4 Some times 10 13.16 3 7.5 13 11.21
Total 76 100 40 100 116 100

Conclusion

On the basis of description and analysis as conclusion we can say that educated youth of the Tharu and Buksa communities have both traditional and new food habits. Some youth are ignoring their own traditional food trends but some youth are still respecting their culture and traditional food trends. Effects of other cultures and education are main reasons of changing food habits. Maximum Tharu-Buksa youth are non-vegetarian and they also like milk and milk-products. There is no major difference between male and female about food habits. Maximum youth like fast-food culture but they can not afford it daily so they are used normal and traditional food in daily life but weekly and some times they enjoy with fast-food.

Acknowledgement

We are very thankful of all the Tharu and Buksa students of my college for their important assistance and support. We are especially thankful of Raj Kapoor Rana, Amit Singh Rana, Km.Geeta Devi and Km. Janki Buksa for help in conducting interview for this study. We are also thankful of Dr. Jiyoti Tiwari, Head, department of Home Science HNB Garhwal University Sri Nagar Garhwal for her important suggestions and guidance.

References
1. Acharya Ganesh Raj, 2001 Changing Tharu society: A hope for new generationhttp://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2001/jun/jun06/local.htm
2. Kumar, N. 1968, ‘A genetic survey among the Rana Tharus of Nainital District in Uttar Pradesh’, Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society- 3(1-2), pp 39
3. Majumadar, D.N., 1941, ‘The tharus and Their Blodd Group’-Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. VIII No.1 p33
4. Odegaard, Sigrun Eide, 1997, From Castes to Ethnic Group? Modernization and Forms of social Identification among the Tharus of the Nepalese Tarai, Thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the Cand. Polit. Degree, Institute and Museum of Anthropology, University of Oslo
5. Srivastav, S.K., 1958, The Tharus: A Study In Culture Dynamics, Agra University Press Agra
6. Govila, J. P. 1959 ‘The Tharu of Terai and Bhabar’, Indian Folklore, 2, 1959,

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