Lifestyle Diseases Among Tribal Population The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has conducted following studies on lifestyle diseases among the tribal population: i) Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) risk factor survey under Integrated Disease surveillance Programme (IDSP) survey in 2007-2008 was completed in Mizoram in males and females aged between 15-64 years, residing in urban and rural areas and collected information on tobacco, alcohol, diet, physical activity, hypertension and body weight; ii) Several studies have been done at Andaman & Nicobar Islands since 2007; and iii) The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, conducted a survey on Diet and Nutritional Status of Tribal Population and Prevalence of Hypertension among adults in the year 2009. The ICMR stated that no such information is available on the deaths due to various lifestyle diseases on a routine basis. However, a preliminary analysis of 204 deaths occurred in 2014 in Nicobar district showed that 71% were caused on Non-Communicable Diseases. Circulatory system disease were the cause of death 23% and respiratory system disease in 22% deaths. About 8% of the deaths were caused by neoplasms, 4% by kidney diseases and 5% by diabetes mellitus. Between the year 2015-2016, in Sikkim, Non-Communicable Diseases accounted for 71% deaths, Koraput district, Odisha 55% and Lunglei district, Mizoram 71% in persons aged between 32-70 years. ICMR has established the Tribal Health Research Forum" in which ICMR Institutes conduct health research on various issues, including lifestyle diseases. The Forum works closely with local health and tribal authorities and shares findings suitable for implementation in a program. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) during 2010-12 covering all the States and UTs of India. The focus of NPCDCS is on promotion of healthy lifestyle, early diagnosis and management of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and common cancers, e.g., cervix cancer, breast cancer and oral cancer. The MOS, H&F Welfare, Shri Shripad Naik stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
