November 2008, Sarlapalli Village, Nallamalla Forest.

Among one of the biggest problems faced by the Chenchus who are in constant contact with civilization is health related. The children (as can be seen from the pale, scabbed hands of the baby in the hammock) are commonly prone to various skin diseases. Many of them never live to see adulthood. And even those who live to be adults are frequently prone to diseases that have been eradicated from urban India. There are many reasons for this. One reason is they have no natural resistance to many of the diseases that are common in a civilized world as until recently they have lived in isolation for generations in forests. Second reason is inadequate health care provided by the government. A third reason is improper hygiene among the tribals when living in a civilized setting. Another important reason for their ill health, especially among their children, is food related which I’ll talk about in relation to a later photo.

(To read this photo essay in sequence from the beginning please go here.)