You are a resident of a remote tribal district, where there is high incidence of malnutrition. As a remedial measure, the District Magistrate has initiated a programme to promote millet cultivation, especially on the lands currently lying fallow in the district. However, this well-intentioned move of the officer receives flak from the local tribals as this may not only change their age-old food habits, but also alter their traditional agricultural practices. They further cite lower remunerative prices of millets as another reason for continuing with their existing crop production pattern. As a civil servant aspirant, who has a keen interest in development of tribal areas, answer the following questions: (a) What according to you are the key issues and challenges involved in the above situation? (b) Identify the key stakeholders and their respective interests. (c) Suggest a course of action that the District Magistrate can take keeping in mind the larger tribal interests.

(a) Key Issues :-

(1) High incidence of Malnutrition which will lead to higher infant mortality, and also will reduce their healthy life.

(2) Tribal culture being affected Tribals respect their culture and do not want to change. Here it includes changing their food habits & cultivation practices

(3) lower remunerative prices of millets which discourages its production.

Challenges :- (1) To convince them to change their food habits & alter their traditional agriculture practices

(2) To reduce malnutrition & disease burden

(3) Smooth adoption of nutricereals

(4) Finding new alternative options if this fails or not able to produce desired result.

(b) Key stakeholders :-

(1) Tribals → want to protect their age old culture & tradition → To lead a healthy life & decrease malnutrition → finding remunerative prices for their produce.

(2) District Magistrate & Administration → development of tribal area → Improve their health → smooth implementation of policies.

(3) Myself - as civil servant aspirant I should have developed sympathetic attitute towards tribals, thus want their betterment.

(4) NGOs / Civil societies - who work for tribal development and also for protection of their culture.

(c) Course of the action that District Magistrate can take keeping in mind their interests :-

(1) Wider consultations - knowing first the problem of the issue and how it can be solved This will involve talking to NGOs, tribals, experts and even Tribal Ministry.

(2) Finding Remunerative price of their produce through eNAM or better price discovery

(3) Nutritions food - other sources like through PDS (Public Distribution System), DM should arrange for fortified cereals & food (several states allow now).

(4) Finding alternative - how they can adopt to new changes. Before this → how nutrition can be increased through their traditional agricultural practices should be studied - this can be done by changing the seeds

(5) Community Participation & Capacity Building so that they can take care of their health.