HEALTH PROBLEMS OF SCHEDULED TRIBES IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT OF SOUTH TAMIL NADU.

In India, there are more than 400 tribal groups that constitute 8 percent of the nation’s total population. Around 87 million persons have been enumerated in the country as members of Scheduled Tribes. They are socially and economically weaker and also under object poverty and live in a subsistence economy and general backwardness. This is because of their ill health which is a cause and consequence of poverty. The present study was undertaken Andipottai, Kazhaparai, Thanchanmalai, Thottamalai and Mudavarpottai settlements in Kanyakumari district. There is need for the educational empowerment of all tribal settlements in Kaniyakumari district. The Information Education and Communication (IEC) should reach all tribal for enhancement of knowledge of communicable and non communicable disease. The Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) should be strengthened to utilize more health care services.