A Socio – Legal Study on Reproductive & Child Health among Santhal Tribal Community: With Special Reference to West Burdwan in West Bengal

Abstract

The Santhal people are one of the homogenous and dominant tribes in comparison to the Munda, Bhumiji, Kora, Lodha, Mahali, Bhutia, Bedia and Savar in West Bengal. The present study aims to investigate the issues pertaining to infants and children, marriages, pregnancy, family planning practices etc.., The Santhal’s society is patrilineal and patriarchal in nature. Problems of health and nutrition among the tribals are common due to poverty and lack of sanitary and proper medical facilities. Child marriage has been a pervasive factor in the society and the position of women has been subordinate to that of men. The ideas that are prevalent in the Western World on the concept of reproductive and child health have influenced India and the issue related to the health of the mother and child has changed. For this research the researcher has used an Interview Schedule for the collection of primary data to secure the responses of the subject belonging   to socio economic strata of the various denominations.