Food habits & anthropometry of two tribes of Rajmahal hills, Bihar.

ABSTRACT

A dietary survey was conducted between August 1986 and July 1987, to investigate the various food ingredients consumed by two tribes (the Santals and the Pahariyas) residing in the villages of Rajmahal hills, of Bihar. A total of 651 families of two tribes of Sahibganj (Pakur and Rajmahal sub-divisions) and Godda districts were surveyed. Agriculture and forest products were the principal sources of income and food. Only about 12.6 per cent of the Pahariyas and 28.2 per cent Santals could afford regular meals every day for the whole year. Maize, rice, dry jawar powder and Ghangara were the staple foods of these tribes. Pulses and milk found no place in the diet of the Pahariyas. About 4.3 per cent Mals, 2.9 per cent Kumarbhags and 1.8 per cent Saurias and 7.2 per cent Santals ate fish/meat regularly. Toddy and locally distilled wines were regularly consumed by both the tribes. The amount of cereals, roots/tubers and toddy consumed by the Pahariyas was greater than that by the Santals (cereals 82 and 64.6 per cent of the total food consumed by the Pahariyas and the Santals respectively). Similar amounts of leafy vegetables (5.1% in Santals and 4.8 to 6.8% among the Pahariyas) was consumed by these tribes. Slightly, higher quantity of non-leafy vegetables was consumed by the Santals (4.4%) than the Pahariyas (2.3% to 3.6%). Mean body weight, height, chest circumference, arm circumference and skinfold thickness etc., of the Pahariyas were significantly lower than those of the Santals.