This Article is From Jun 30, 2011

Alcohol, not milk for tribal children in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: A television channel in Andhra Pradesh has caught on camera children as young as two years drinking toddy, often served to them by parents who do not have meals or milk to offer.

iNews says that parents in tribal areas of the Mahbubnagar district have been using adulterated locally-brewed alcohol to put their children to sleep. This allows adults to head out to work.

One report says that iNews found a five-year-old drinking local beer.

Heath authorities say that trouble in accessing some parts of these villages makes it tough to deliver milk to poor families. They also say that culturally, tribals here have a long tradition of giving toddy to their children.

Anganwadi centres - meant to serve as day care centres run by the government for children from poor families - will be closely monitored and studied to uncover why they are not serving tribal families in the regions.


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