Department of Public Health, The University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
Present address: Coventry City Council, Council House, Earl Street, CV1 5RR, Coventry United Kingdom

Corresponding author email: afifa.ahmad@coventry.gov.uk

Article Publishing History

INTRODUCTION

India is suffering from one of the largest numbers of undernourished people in the world, despite having one of world’s largest farm outputs. There are various reasons behind the existence of this dichotomy. Challenges with Food Security in India have been a major cause of concern for the authorities over the past many years. The First Millennium Development Goal states the target of “Halving hunger by 2015”. Sadly, the recent statistics for India present a very gloomy picture. India currently has the largest number of undernourished people in the world, although it has made substantial progress in health determinants over the past decades and ranks second worldwide in farm output. According to the World Food Programme, 195 million people in India are undernourished, 43% of children in India are chronically undernourished. India ranks 68th out of 113 major countries in the Global Food Security Index 2022 [1].

Food insecurity is a condition in which a person or household has difficulty obtaining adequate, safe, culturally acceptable, and nutrient-dense food to fulfill dietary needs and preferences for a healthy life, owing to a lack of resources or climate change. The impacts of inadequate resource availability on food and health are reflected by a spectrum of unfavorable developmental consequences of varying severity [2]. Food insecurity per se, exists when all people, at all times, do not have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life [3].

Groups and communities identified and enumerated as tribes and indigenous people during British rule came to be reclassified as Scheduled Tribes after the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950. Indigenous people make up approximately 6% of the world’s population, and they account for approximately 90% of the extremely poor [4].

According to the Census of India [5], the tribal population constitutes 8.6% of the country’s population. National Family Health Survey data, 2015-2016, [6] shows 45.6 percent of indigenous members live in the lowest wealth bracket. It has been found that natural resources and land on which the IP depend are indistinguishably linked with their cultural livelihood identities along with their spiritual and physical well-being. It is worth mentioning that the main challenges encountered by the poor IP include economic and political exclusion, abuse of human rights, unemployment, discrimination, and resource depletion.

 Reasons for food security in India.

There are several reasons for the need for a robust food security system in India,  some are stated as follows: Population Pressure: With over 1.5 billion people, India has a large and growing population. The increasing demand for food places significant pressure on agricultural production and food resources. Agricultural Productivity: India’s agricultural sector is characterized by low productivity due to several factors, such as fragmented land holdings, inadequate irrigation facilities, lack of modern farming techniques, and limited access to credit and technology.

Climate Change and Natural Disasters: Erratic weather patterns, including droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures, affect crop yields and livestock productivity. Water Scarcity: Agriculture in India is heavily dependent on monsoon rains. However, rainfall patterns are increasingly unpredictable, leading to water scarcity in some regions. Degradation and Soil Health: Land degradation, caused by factors like erosion, overuse of chemical fertilizers, and improper land management practices, poses a threat to agricultural productivity. Storage and Distribution: Inefficient storage facilities and inadequate cold chain systems result in substantial food losses and wastage. Poverty and Inequality: Many people, particularly in rural areas and marginalized communities, struggle to afford and access nutritious food consistently.

 Indigenous or Tribal People of India

The World Bank states, “Indigenous Peoples are distinct social and cultural groups that share collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they live, occupy or from which they have been displaced [7]. Estimates of the population of Indigenous peoples range from 250 million to 600 million  [8]. There are some 5,000 distinct Indigenous peoples spread across every inhabited climate zone and inhabited continent of the world [9,10]. Most Indigenous peoples are in a minority in the state or traditional territory they inhabit and have experienced domination by other groups, especially non-Indigenous people, [11,12].  

The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (ILO Convention No. 169) [13[ states that the convention covers: peoples in independent countries who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, or a geographical region to which the country belongs, at the time of conquest or colonisation or the establishment of present state boundaries and who, irrespective of their legal status, retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions [14] .^[24]

The convention also covers “tribal peoples” who are distinguished from Indigenous peoples and described as “tribal peoples in independent countries whose social, cultural and economic conditions distinguish them from other sections of the national community and whose status is regulated wholly or partially by their customs or traditions or by special laws or regulations, [15].

The term “Adivasi” refers to all the indigenous subcontinent tribes and is also known as the IP of India before the Indo Aryans and Dravidians. These people are known as the original inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. In the context of India, it can be said that the local population, specifically those who live near the high-risk prone zones such as mountain regions and coastal areas, are expected to face high unpredictability due to food security impacted by weather changes.  Henceforth, ensuring nutritional and food security is one of the primary tasks of the strategy makers and the government of India.

 In India, there are 705 official and recognized ethnic groups, however, it is estimated that there are more ethnic groups that would qualify for the status of Scheduled Tribes but have not been officially recognized yet. It is estimated that many IPs keep a language distance from the original languages or languages of the region of the country in which they reside. However, many have either lost their native languages or are in danger of going extinct because of being uprooted from their homes and/or relocated to other areas. It has been estimated that the dietary habits of the tribal community in the Himalayan region are changing because of climate change. It is a new norm in the 21st century.

According to the findings of  Upadhyay and Palanivel [16], the reasons for the existing food insecurity in India in rural and tribal areas are mainly due to lack of improvement in agricultural productivity owing to inadequate resources and markets needed to obtain agricultural stability Climate change too, has an impact on the agricultural productivity, which affects the availability of food items and thus, food security. The major impact of weather-related changes is on rain-fed crops, other than rice and wheat. For the tribal communities, habitation in remote, difficult terrains and the practice of subsistence farming have led to significant economic backwardness.

Some studies have reported that in the urban population, the key issue that catalyzes the problem of food insecurity in urban areas and needs to be addressed is the large proportion of the informal workforce, resulting in the unplanned growth of slums that lack basic health and hygiene facilities. Rural-to-urban migration has shown a gradual increase, with its high share in total migration. These rural migrants form a large chunk of the population referred to as the ‘informal sector’. The emergence of these rural origin pockets in the urban areas has resulted in several slum settlements characterized by inadequate water and sanitation facilities, insufficient housing, and increased food insecurity [16, 17].

Another important point that might promote food insecurity is the dependence of this labourer class on daily employment wages, which tends to be variable on different days of the month and thus food procurement and access fluctuate. A striking issue is that in India, all the privilege of the government schemes and programmes aimed at helping the urban slum people is enjoyed only by those slums that are notified. Ironically, around 50 % of the urban slums are not notified and thus are deprived of government schemes. People from these un-notified slums have to buy their food from the common market at a competitive price and are devoid of the subsidized food made available through the Public Distribution System,[18].

The main aim of food security is to ensure that people at all times have social, physical and economic access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life. In the context of the IP of India, they eat nuts, fruits, roots, seeds, vegetables, and grasses. While nutrition outcomes across India are poor, they are typically worse in tribal areas. Sixty percent of the burden of malnutrition occurs in seven states: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. These states lag in terms of per capita income and human development indicators and also possess significant proportions of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Traditionally Scheduled Castes have faced social segregation and discrimination, and Scheduled Tribes have been isolated and excluded physically and, hence, socially [19]. India’s ‘indigenous peoples’ number about 104 million and account for 8.6 percent of the overall population.

Moreover, as per the observation of Patil [20], every step of their lives is impacted by disadvantages and prejudice regarding change in the climate. It is worth mentioning that the close relationship of IP with the natural environment and resources makes them highly sensitive to the effects of global warming [21]. In some cases, it has been identified that the existence of many people and tribal communities is threatened by climate change and by the fast-expanding production of biofuels, which are being promoted as a “solution” to the challenge.

Figure 1: Drought-prone areas in India

 

Figure 2: Showing tribal states of India   Cited From [22] Chandramouli, C. 2013. Release of Primary Census Abstract Data Highlights, Census of India 2011, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Ministry of Home Affairs

It is worth mentioning that the capacity of indigenous people to assess and monitor their environment and make decisions, such as whether to plant crops, has also been hampered by the increasingly unpredictable weather. As per the observation of Etchart [23], they have grown increasingly interested in finding other ways to survive, such as assisting drug traffickers or letting loggers and gold prospectors enter the jungle. The indigenous and peasant groups of India who live in forests are being negatively impacted by the biofuel crops. It has been observed  that biofuel crops are promoted as a part of the solution to climate change. The land rights, traditional ways of life, and even the survival of indigenous community people are threatened or destroyed.  Biofuels, which include corn, oil palm, rapeseed, sugar cane, soy, and wheat, are liquid or gaseous fuels made from plant (or animal) materials. It has been found by this indigenous community of India that the water level and forest cover of Alirajpur and Madhya Pradesh Jhabua have been decreasing significantly over the past years.

However, if they do not conserve natural resources, then it can become a great challenge for the next generation. In response to the challenge, more than 10000 Bhil tribe people from around 300 villages have repaired 250 hand pumps and planted 11000 trees in the region. This initiative taken by this tribal community has increased the level of water over a certain period. This shows the effective support and collaborative work of this indigenous community of India against one of the major climate change challenges. It is worth mentioning that this step taken by the Bhil committee is one of the greatest examples of a positive view toward sustainable development [24].

Additionally, the associated problems related to climate change are increasing gradually, and calls for urgent action to be taken to allow enough time for building resilience in the food production system of India. As seen in the figure above, climate change poses a continuum of threats to agribusiness, agricultural productivity, and economic and social ramifications, including national food security. On the farm, the production of the field crop might rise or decline based on herbicides fighting for nutrients and water, as well as corrective farming measures. Pests, as well as illnesses, are anticipated to spread because of changes in the weather patterns emerging in places that are less equipped for them, both biologically as well as procedurally, with possibly greater terrible impacts [25]. These increased hazards to farm productivity immediately result in increased threats to the food security of those who depend on traditional agriculture for food as well as a living. Thus, these individuals can influence faraway communities’ food security as well as nutrition via price fluctuations, along with interrupting commerce.

Concern regarding ensuring food security, especially for the vulnerable communities, has grown as a result of the threat of global environmental changes such as land cover, change in availability of water, cycling, and altered availability of nitrogen. According to George and McKay [26] there is also growing worry that meeting the cost of food demand from a rise in population and shift of that reference would result in more environmental degradation, native vegetation loss, and agricultural intensification. This might also impact the food security and food system of the indigenous people. As per the observation of Zurayk [27], food security is not only concerned with the availability of food but also the accessibility and utilization of food. However, it has been found that climate change can impact food security and food availability. As indigenous people are the closest to the environment and nature, their food security is highly impacted by several factors.

In a detailed paper on addressing the food insecurity of India through agricultural traditional knowledge, Sharma [28]  reported that, like other developing countries, food security in India is a complex issue that has been a concern for many years. Despite being one of the world’s largest producers of food, millions of Indians still struggle to access enough nutritious food to meet their daily needs. One of the main reasons for food insecurity in India is poverty. According to the World Bank, [29] approximately 21.9% of the population in India lives below the poverty line.

This means that one in five Indians cannot afford to buy enough food to meet their daily needs. The seriousness of the matter can be assessed through other global research reports as well which have undertaken the task of studying the issues of food security and global hunger. Given the current population growth patterns, a report published by Food & Agriculture Organization [30] predicts that the total global population is likely to rise by 35% by the year 2050, and such an occurrence will mostly be in developing countries. As a result, enormous pressure will be placed on affected countries to expand their agricultural production capacity by nearly 70%. As a result of this, food will become a matter of national security in those regions.

According to this report of FAO, by 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34 percent higher than today. Nearly all of this population increase will occur in developing countries. Urbanization will continue at an accelerated pace, and about 70 percent of the world’s population will be urban (compared to 49 percent today). Income levels will be many multiples of what they are now. In order to feed this larger, more urban and richer population, food production (net of food used for biofuels) must increase by 70 percent. Annual cereal production will need to rise to about 3 billion tonnes from 2.1 billion today, and annual meat production will need to rise by over 200 million tonnes to reach 470 million tonnes.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) further concretizes these findings. The study published by the IFPRI, under its 2022 Global Hunger Index (GHI) finds that current progress against hunger has mostly halted [31].  The situation has gotten worse in numerous nations and regions. One of the GHI’s primary indicators, the prevalence of undernourishment, shows that the number of people who are not getting enough to eat is on the rise, and could reach 828 million by 2021 [32, 33].

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is in charge of making the index. The GHI gives each country a score out of 100. The best score is 0 (no hunger), and the worst is 100. A lower GHI score means that people are eating better and that the country is ranked higher. The GHI shows what worked and what didn’t work in reducing hunger and gives information about what causes hunger. To show how complex hunger is, the GHI combines three indicators with the same amount of weight: undernourishment, underweight children, and child mortality [32,33].

Hunger is on the rise, reaching around 800 million people in 2020, and about 2.4 billion people now suffer food insecurity [34]. India continues to bear a huge burden of food and nutrition insecurity, ranking 107 out of 121 countries on the 2022 Global Hunger Index [35]. The World Food Programme claims that India is home to a quarter of all undernourished people worldwide, making the country a key focus for tackling hunger on a global scale. Within India, it seems that sixty percent of the burden of malnutrition occurs in densely tribal populated states (SAFANSI, 2014:1), and NFHS-IV reports that more than 40% of tribal children in India are stunted and underweight and about 30% wasted, [36,37].

Figure 3: Components of food security  (Source: El Bilali et al., 2020 [38)]

It is worth mentioning that improving and supporting the adaptive capacity of the IP can only be successful and helpful if it is integrated with other strategies such as land use planning, nutritional plants, disaster preparation, and an environmental conservation plan for sustainable development. According to the observation of El Bilali et al. [38], adjusting to changing circumstances calls for more money and technology transfer and capacity building that most indigenous communities do not have. In addition, it has been found that short-term adaptation activities are underway, but capacity, constraints, and resources limit the implementation of long-term strategies.

 It is important to note that some mitigation measures have unpleasant direct and indirect consequences for the IP community. For illustration, some initiatives for agriculture may reduce the emission of greenhouse gases but also lead to an increase in the plantation of monoculture crops and have been identified to be linked with the decline in food security and biodiversity. As per the views of Mukhopadhyay et al.,[39]  it can be said that to prevent these plans from harming IP communities, it is essential that these groups fully and effectively participate in the development of the mitigation measures that the state develops.

On this note, it can be said that policies to protect and recognize the rights of the IP to their food security and land will benefit human society. Nalau et al. [40] found that IP plays an important role in many ecosystems as they stay active in their territories and land and thus help to enhance the resilience of these ecosystems. Due to the food insecurity, the IP was forced to choose to migrate away from their traditional and due to this, they often face double discrimination as indigenous people and migrants.

According to Agarwal [41] one of the biggest drawbacks of food insecurity is that indigenous people become more vulnerable to irregular migration such as due to abrupt displacement caused by a catastrophic change event, limited legal migration alternatives, and little opportunity to make educated decisions, people of this community are more susceptible to crimes like trafficking and smuggling. It has been observed that people who belong to the indigenous communities are being forced to move to cities for economic reasons by deforestation, particularly in emerging nations. These families frequently end up in urban slums. Earlier studies reveal that man-made activities such as overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuel, and deforestation have a high impact on the degradation of Himalayan areas, which makes the residents of that vertical area more susceptible to climate variations. This study also replied that a complete understanding of the local socio-cultural attitudes related to food choices is necessary for inclusive and responsive climate change initiatives [42].

It is worth mentioning that the food usage and dietary habits of the indigenous group change due to the variation made in the production system brought by the change in the climate. At the same time, long-term food security has also been found to be impacted by the impact of a changing climate on the stability of the food system and its resilience. Additionally, the pursuit of food security increases greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and land use changes by increasing agricultural intensification and agricultural area expansion [38]. Because of the complex relationship between food security and climate change, there is a need for integrated policies that maximize co-benefits while resolving trade-offs.

This study by Bilali reveals that the indigenous people who live in such conditions have a high rate of poverty and hunger because of the adverse effects of the variation on food security. The author has also reflected that the degradation of in climate and the utilization of food have also impacted the nutritional status of the population, especially in the context of poor and Indigenous people [38]. The change in climate results in increasing temperature, reducing the quality of water, and affecting hygiene habits, especially in semi-arid and arid areas. It also increases the burden of diseases such as diarrhea among the children of the indigenous community. This qualitative research has also stated that global warming is one of the causes of malnutrition because it negatively impacts the nutrition and food security of vulnerable groups such as children and women. According to another research, approximately 60% of the Indian population directly depends on agriculture and is found to be related to industries for their livelihoods [43].

Indian agriculture is particularly vulnerable to the dangers and shocks brought on by climate change. Due to their economic and social fragility, resource-poor families will face even greater problems because of climate change. A  recent study by the George Institute for Global Health Report of India [44]  found that while the tribal communities had traditional ecological knowledge about a variety of indigenous foods, the consumption of these foods among women and children in all communities was inadequate, with poor nutrient intake. Vitamin A and iron deficiency was observed among women of the Sauria Paharia and Santhal communities. Among the Munda women, there was poor intake of all nutrients except protein and vitamin C, while the Ho community had inadequate intake of all nutrients except for Vitamin A, Vitamin C, thiamin, and niacin. A high prevalence of wasting, stunting, and low weight was observed in young children in all the tribes. It is possible to tackle undernutrition in these communities by implementing strategies such as agricultural extension programs that promote indigenous crop varieties and nutrition education sessions to increase dietary diversity using indigenous foods.

The team of researchers from the George Institute recommend that in addition to increasing the demand for locally produced foods, it is important to promote the creation of community seed banks for distributing indigenous seeds, educating indigenous communities on sustainable farming methods to preserve local landraces and drought-resistant varieties, and supporting communities in establishing home gardens. Nutrition education sessions that reinforce traditional ecological knowledge and raise awareness about the nutritional significance of indigenous foods should also be encouraged. These actions are essential for promoting resilient, nutritious, and sustainable food systems[44].

Qualitative discussions carried out by the George Institute Team in its report revealed that climate variability had a significant impact on the agroforestry systems, with reduced crop productivity, diversity and food availability from forests and waterbodies resulting in reduced consumption of indigenous foods. The easy availability of cheap ultra-processed foods in local markets was seen to create a shift in dietary patterns, and promotion of hybrid seeds by local agricultural organizations led to reduced production of indigenous varieties [44].

The research also analysed the value chains of finger millet and Koinaar leaves among some of the Indigenous communities. The study identified postharvest losses, laborious processes, and weather dependence as barriers towards the production and consumption of finger millet, while limited seasonal availability and lack of preservation techniques were associated with reduced production and processing of Koinaar leaves. Improving storage, processing machinery, preservation techniques, and market opportunities could enhance production and consumption of these nutrient-rich indigenous foods. This research has significance to India’s program “International Year of Millets 2023” to encourage production and consumption of nutritious millets, (The George Institute Report 2023,[44].

 In India, most IP are farmers, such as the Bhil Community and their livelihood and food security are negatively impacted by climate change. The rising temperatures, frequent droughts, and flood reduces the crop fertility and yield. It creates a challenge to the food security of IP. Some of its examples are an increase in drought, agricultural labor migration, unemployment, and high food insecurity. All these factors affect their social capital, food security, access to clean water and sanitation, mental health, the spread of infectious diseases and injuries, and their ability to receive healthcare in this community. To minimize the impact of the challenges faced by the IP of India, it can be recommended that the government of India should promote the health and well-being of the tribal communities in India. It has been identified that many of the people of this community live far from the modern world and the reach of technology.

However, the government should take effective steps to ensure their health and safety. As the variation in climate directly impacts their food security, the government should take steps such as providing health and minimum living requirements to them, such as food, clothing, and shelter. It is important to note that this systematic study reveals that most times, the indigenous group are forced to leave their ancestral land in search of food; in this context, the government should provide them with constant food and accommodation because they are living below the poverty line.

The economic condition of India and the neglect by the policy makers is the challenge of this recommendation. Women and children of this community suffer from hunger and malnutrition because of the unavailability of food. On this note, the government should provide appropriate Healthcare services and medical camps in such areas to provide them healthcare treatment for free. It has been  found that factorial changes directly impact the agriculture and food security of IP in India. It results in poverty, starvation, hunger, and malnutrition. This escalates the economic distress and mental health of these vulnerable sections of society. Malnutrition is one of India’s most serious and persistent problems. As of 2007, an estimated 43

percent of children under five are underweight, a rate more than double that of Sub-Saharan Africa, and five times greater than that of China. Approximately 48 percent of Indians are stunted, 20 percent are wasted, 70 percent are anemic, and 57 percent are vitamin A deficient [45]. Despite the targeted efforts of national programs, progress has been slow. A more recent study from 2011, conducted across 100 districts, observed that the percentage of children under five who are underweight is 42 percent, representing only a 1 percent decrease since 2007. Indeed, the stunting figure among children under five also increased to 59 percent.

The South Asia Food and Nutrition Security Initiative [46] states that tribal communities lag in every major area important for nutrition, including year-round access to food, delivery of optimal care and feeding practices, and access to health, water, sanitation, and other basic services. Additionally there is low consumption and lack of dietary diversity, derailing nutrition improvements. High poverty levels and low levels of income contribute to lower levels of food security, as well. Various government programs exist to address nutrition, but implementation issues such as supply-side, service delivery and utilization challenges, often at the community level, constrain and reduce effectiveness.

Research and several surveys help understand the significant challenges of food security of such people, aligned with public health issues directly faced by the IP of India. It has been found that the variation in climate results in nutritional insecurity, malnourishment, and wasting amongst indigenous people. As most of the people in this community are farmers, the change impacts their food production. For example, an increase in temperature, drought, flood, and lack of rain damages the food crop, resulting in starvation.

Accordingly, an important area that needs to be explored is ‘crop diversification’. Higher profitability and stability in production highlight the importance of crop diversification, e.g. legumes alternative to rice and wheat. Growing of non-cereal crops such as oilseeds, fruits and vegetables etc need to be encouraged. The creation of decentralized food grain banks in each village or block of the district, from which people may get subsidized food grains against food coupons, will be a good option. This concept will improve the delivery of food grains and eliminate corruption [16].

One of the ways to ensure direct access to good quality food that can be easily grown and prepared could be the concept of home gardening. One excellent example of household gardening can be seen in Bangladesh, where, as part of its global effort to eliminate vitamin A deficiency and nutritional blindness, the NGO Helen Keller International implemented a home gardening and nutrition education project [47].

The concept worked upon was that promotion of low-cost vegetable gardens amalgamated with nutrition education could prove to be instrumental for improving the nutritional status, particularly women and young children. As a result of this intervention, the average household income increased and also the nutritional intake. Using community leaders through a group approach will indirectly ensure community participation and will add to the success of the concept.

The major challenge faced by the IP is that their traditional food and wild varieties of food are being eliminated from natural habitat, causing high risk to food stability and security. Also been found that the accessibility or availability of food decreases because of the detrimental effect of variation in climate and weather on prices and availability of food in rural livelihoods.

Public Distribution Systems (PDS) in India play a crucial role in ensuring food security for its population. With the help of targeted Identification, PDS provides subsidized food grains. It supplies essential commodities such as rice, wheat, and sugar. It maintains a buffer stock of food grains to meet emergency requirements, such as natural disasters. It also has an extensive distribution network spread across the country. Fair Price Shops act as the primary distribution points to reach the most vulnerable populations.

 Creation of community seed banks for indigenous seeds distribution, education on sustainable farming methods for conservation of local landraces as well as drought-resistant varieties, supporting communities for establishing home gardens, and conducting nutrition education sessions that reinforce TEK and raise interest about IFs and their nutritional significance should be encouraged.

Indigenous people, despite their vast knowledge of the world’s territories and guardianship of 80% of global species diversity, are nutritionally vulnerable and experience significant disparities in health outcomes, grounded in poverty and marginalization [48]. This contributes to their inability to realize the potential of their traditional food systems in providing sustainable solutions to the existing nutrition insecurity within the population [49]. Factors like declining traditional knowledge, opportunity cost in access, displacement of traditional crop species by a few major crops, and shifting diets and food cultures have substantially influenced their food systems  [50] and led to underutilization of many diverse indigenous food resources [51,52].

CONCLUSION

Food security among indigenous populations in India requires a multifaceted approach that addresses cultural, ecological, and economic challenges. By promoting indigenous food systems, supporting community-led initiatives, and preserving traditional knowledge, we can help ensure the food security and sovereignty of India’s indigenous populations. An important area that needs to be explored is crop diversification. Higher profitability and the stability in production highlight the importance of crop diversification, e.g., legumes as an alternative with rice and wheat. Growing of non-cereal crops such as oilseeds, fruits and vegetables etc need to be encouraged. The creation of decentralized food grain banks in each village or block of the district, from which people may get subsidized food grains against food coupons, will be a good option. This concept will improve the delivery of food grains and eliminate corruption. The primary source of the poor tribal people is their land, therefore, the government must protect the tribes’ agricultural land to ensure their food security. As food security is associated with the wider aspect of public health and can influence the mental health and wellbeing of the IP, it is suggested that the government should provide them with basic hygienic food products for survival.

Data Availability: All data are available from the corresponding author and can be shared upon a reasonable request

Conflict of Interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

Funding: Nil

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