In the past, everyone who went in search of food was called ‘Bhatke’. Based on the work done by these nomadic groups for their livelihood, they were counted in the caste system and their social status was determined according to caste. In Maharashtra, the nomadic castes include Masanjogi, Gondhali, Madari, Dombari, Vasudev and many other castes. These nomadic Vimukta go far from their native villages to settle wherever they can find work to satisfy their hunger. Although their journey is for food, does that food provide them with the necessary nutrition? This is a serious question.
A few months ago, an organization called Koro India had organized a dialogue yatra in Mumbai to find solutions to the problems of nomadic Vimukta. After discussing the problems of the nomadic Vimukta present at this time, it was realized that the nutritious diet of women and the physical problems arising from it are serious. Basically, due to ignorance and poverty, the definition of what nutritious food is is unfamiliar to this society. Therefore, it was noticed from their speech that these women believe that the only way to satisfy hunger is to eat what is available and that is the way to live.
Dietary needs change with age. Body structure, functions performed by the body, and growth stages change with age. Therefore, the nutritional needs of the body also change. Therefore, it is necessary to include various types of nutrients in the diet at different age stages. Proper nutrition at the right age leads to good physical and mental development.
Especially, it is necessary for women’s bodies to consume a diet rich in iron, vitamins, and calcium. Because, women need all these to maintain good physical health during the natural processes of life such as childbirth, menstruation, and menopause. Which helps reduce the problems they face. In addition, a good diet is necessary to prevent diabetes, bone diseases, blood pressure, heart disease, brain disease, and sensory disorders that occur with age. Which must include daily pulses, pulses, cereals, wet vegetables, fruits, dry fruits.
However, the issue of nutrition cannot be accepted by the nomadic and liberated community, whose only goal is to fill the stomach. Because this community, which gets paid for the work done during the day, has no guarantee that food will be cooked on the day when there is no work. Also, due to insufficient information about government schemes, this community is seen as being left behind as a beneficiary of basic facilities like education, food, and shelter.
Various schemes are seen on the official website of the committee formed by the Maharashtra government for nomads and liberated people. However, there is a lack of special schemes for women in it. Perhaps due to this lack, women in this community are deprived of nutritious food. Another important aspect is that since they have to wander from village to village for work, this community does not have the facility of ration cards. Also, they do not have identity cards like Aadhaar card, PAN card. Therefore, they do not get the free ration provided by the government every month.
Also, if a woman is pregnant or a new mother, she does not get the healthy food provided through Anganwadi. Due to this situation, the physical malnutrition of women affects not only that woman but also the next generation. Also, it is noticed that this incident of women dying due to the lack of necessary elements for the body during increasing body changes has happened to some extent. On the other hand, in a country where agriculture is the main identity, this is a very serious question about the healthy diet of women. Even if that woman belongs to a backward and nomadic society!
