Food insecurity has reached alarming levels among the Santal community living in the plains, with a recent study showing that nearly 63 per cent of families are facing severe shortages and most are deprived of nutritious and preferred food.
This crisis, deeply rooted in landlessness, illiteracy, and poverty, threatens the future of an entire community.
The study, conducted in Dhamoirhat, Patnitala, and Sapahar upazilas of Naogaon, was presented on Saturday at the BRAC Centre Inn during the annual economists’ conference organised by the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM). Led by researchers Md Liton Hossain, Md Morshed Hossain, and Kazi Newaz Mostafa, the study reveals the extent to which food insecurity is entrenched in the Santal community.
According to the report, 62.91 per cent of Santal families are experiencing severe food insecurity, while only 6.62 per cent of households report being food secure. The situation is dire, with over 93 per cent of families experiencing some level of insecurity, whether moderate (26.49 per cent) or mild (3.97 per cent).
The study further details the harsh realities faced by these families: 61.52 per cent of households are anxious about food, and an overwhelming 90.73 per cent cannot afford their preferred meals. Additionally, 91.39 per cent of families are forced to consume a limited variety of food, with 89.40 per cent resorting to eating foods they do not prefer.
Food quantity is also a significant issue. Around 80.13 per cent of families report eating less than the required amount, and 72.19 per cent have reduced their daily meals. Perhaps most concerning, 28.48 per cent of families go to bed hungry each night, while 2.65 per cent have experienced days without any food.
The study also reveals the daily challenges faced by the Santal community. For most families, the day begins with puffed or fried rice and tea, providing little nourishment. The months of March, April, October, and November are particularly harsh, with food shortages reaching critical levels during these times.
The study identifies landlessness and lack of education as the root causes of the crisis. Although nearly 81 per cent of Santal families depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, most are landless.
Educational challenges are also significant, with 43.05 per cent of household heads being illiterate, and only 4.64 per cent having completed their graduate education. Language barriers also lead to high dropout rates among Santal children, further exacerbating the cycle of poverty.
To address the situation, the researchers recommended several measures, including separate policies and budget allocations for indigenous communities in the plains, the introduction of primary education in the mother tongue, ensuring land rights, preventing social violence, providing access to institutional credit on easy terms, offering technical training, and expanding safe water and sanitation facilities.
As food insecurity continues to undermine the well-being of the Santal people, these recommendations aim to provide a long-term solution to the ongoing crisis, offering hope for a better future.
