Socio-Economic and Environmental Dimensions on Health: A Study on the Santals of West Midnapore and Bankura

Abstract

The most interesting feature of the tribal economy is that the majority of the tribals depend on agriculture, but they do not depend on it exclusively. Their economy is also based on forest collection and daily labour work; it is considered as a significant occupation among the tribals. Collection of forest products is a very common practice among the Santal tribes residing mostly in the eastern part of India. They not only collect different food items from the forest, but also earn through it when the surplus items are sold at the local markets. The tribal health is also connected directly or indirectly to their economic and socio-cultural conditions and environmental situation, particularly the forest ecology. This paper attempts to explore the implications of socio-economic factors and forest on health on the Santals of West Midnapore and Bankura Districts of West Bengal.