Vitamin Angels India study highlights nutritional challenges in primary sector workers

New Delhi: A new exploratory study by Vitamin Angels India, supported by UNICEF India, reveals significant nutritional vulnerabilities among India’s primary sector worker communities. It aims to understand the barriers and enablers of optimal nutrition, specifically among children under five, pregnant and lactating women, and mothers of children ages 0-5 years.

The study, which examines into the demand and supply factors that impact the dietary behaviors, practices, and perceptions of six primary sector communities—including fishermen, brick-kiln workers, forestry workers, plantation workers, and salt-pan workers—across eight states, highlights the impact of seasonal employment, low daily wages, and limited access to government services on household nutrition.

Key findings from the study emphasize that among low-resource communities, particularly those with seasonal employment such as brick-fields and salt-pans, the focus of food consumption is primarily on sustenance rather than nutritional adequacy. This often leads to diets lacking in diversity and essential nutrients needed for growth and development.

The study also underscores the role of patriarchal structures in influencing nutrition-related decision-making within households. In many communities, women have limited agency in purchasing and preparing food, despite contributing significantly to primary sector work alongside household responsibilities. Decisions about food are predominantly made by men, with women receiving priority in terms of nutrition only during pregnancy, except in cases of severe economic hardship.

Employment nature, income level, land and livestock ownership, and access to government services are identified as key determinants of nutritional outcomes. For example, brick-field and salt-pan workers face intermittent work, extreme weather, and low wages, restricting their ability to purchase diverse and nutritious foods. Migrant status further limits their access to government health services and hinders negotiations for better wages and working conditions.

In contrast, communities involved in producing food, such as fishing and agriculture, often engage in bartering, fostering economic interdependence and communal support. This practice highlights the importance of collaboration in sustaining livelihoods.

The study advocates for improved access to locally relevant nutrition information, particularly among women in low-resource settings. It also stresses the importance of leveraging locally grown, affordable food items to tackle malnutrition. Recommendations include enhancing women’s educational status, increasing male involvement in nutrition-related activities, and addressing household financial priorities to improve diet diversity.

Sunish Jauhari, President of Vitamin Angels India, emphasized, “Nearly half of the Indian population is engaged in primary sector work. A large number of them often lack access to food and evidence-based nutrition interventions. This study is an effort to generate both demand and supply insights from the ground about our fellow citizens living in vulnerable conditions. The lived experience of a fisherman worker in Odisha is very different from the realities of the same community in Tamil Nadu, and these were the nuances we hoped to capture. We believe it will provide a good reference to the governments, entrepreneurs and innovators with mandate and interest in addressing under-nutrition.”

The study’s findings aim to inform policymakers, donors, and program designers about the complex factors affecting nutrition in these communities, encouraging interventions that go beyond awareness to address financial, educational, and social barriers to improved nutrition.