Human development status of scheduled tribal women in Kerala

Abstract

This study investigates the human development status of Scheduled Tribal women in Kerala, with a particular focus on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) - Kadar, Kattunaykkan, and Kurumba women. Although Kerala is often celebrated for its high human development indicators, tribal women - particularly from PVTG communities - continue to experience severe deprivation and marginalization across critical dimensions of well-being. The study is grounded in empirical fieldwork conducted using a multistage random sampling method, ensuring representative and region-specific data. A total of 598 respondents were selected, comprising 147 Kadar women from Thrissur district, 228 Kattunaykkan women from Wayanad district, and 223 Kurumba women from Palakkad district. The study explores their health status, maternal health, nutritional status, and livelihood issues, revealing significant disparities among these groups. While Kadar women showed relatively better educational outcomes, they faced economic insecurities and unstable livelihoods. Kattunaykkan women reported low literacy rates and limited healthcare access, with high dropout rates further contributing to developmental challenges. Kurumba women, heavily reliant on forest-based livelihoods, experienced pronounced healthcare vulnerabilities and nutritional deficiencies. Anchored in a rights-based approach, this study examines development through composite indices, including the Human Development Index (HDI), Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), and Deprivation Index, to present a comprehensive assessment of inequality, exclusion, and the outcomes of state-led interventions. Findings reveal a stark human development gap between these communities and the general population. The H.R.B-H.D.I scores indicate intra- community variations, with Kadar women registering the highest at 1.802, followed closely by Kattunaykkan (1.798), and Kurumba women recording the lowest at 1.560. In contrast, Kerala’s overall HDI is 0.779 (UNDP, 2019), while the state’s tribal population lags significantly behind at 0.625 (Government of Kerala, 2018). Despite the existence of targeted government interventions such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) for housing, Saubhagya Scheme for rural electrification, Jal Jeevan Mission for water supply, and Ujjwala Yojana for clean cooking fuel, access remains alarmingly inadequate. The deprivation index for the Kurumba tribe stands at 34.25%, with 95.96% of households lacking access to clean drinking water, 94.30% without toilet facilities, and 85.20% facing electricity shortages. The Kattunaykkan community records a deprivation rate of 33.81%, while the Kadar tribe reports 28.76%. Despite policy efforts, 89.8% of Kadar households lack clean drinking water, 79.59% do not have toilets, and 59.2% face power shortages. These statistics point to critical implementation and accessibility gaps in the delivery of public services and welfare schemes. Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) analysis further substantiates the gravity of deprivation: Kurumba (0.614), Kattunaykkan (0.551), and Kadar (0.475). Compared to Kerala’s state MPI of 0.002 and the national average of 0.066 (NITI Aayog, 2023), these figures highlight an alarming concentration of poverty among tribal women. Among the Kurumba, 97.7% of the poor are deprived across all indicators, signalling deep, overlapping disadvantages. This study underscores that despite state and central government interventions, systemic inequities continue to marginalize PVTG women in Kerala. The findings call for a paradigm shift from fragmented welfare approaches to an integrated, gender-sensitive, and culturally responsive development model. The study recommends strengthening last- mile delivery of existing schemes, expanding infrastructure in remote tribal settlements, and adopting participatory governance mechanisms that empower tribal women as agents of change in their own communities.