My Day At The National Tribal Health Conclave

On January 20th, I found myself at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, for the National Tribal Health Conclave (NTHC), an event organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This conference envisioned a deep dive into the pressing issues of tribal health—with a cocktail of innovative ideas, hard-hitting data, and, admittedly, some familiar buzzwords.

Setting The Scene

The day kicked off with all of us gathered in one big hall, where the “why” behind the NTHC was introduced. After that, we broke out into four separate groups, each diving into two focused sessions on specific topics—from healthcare infrastructure and traditional practices to nutrition, adolescent health, and more. In the final act, all groups reconvened in the main hall to present their findings, share recommendations, and wrap up the day.

The organizers reiterated the well-known fact: tribal communities face enormous challenges. With difficult terrains, socio-economic constraints, and a healthcare system that often seems designed for “urban life,” these populations struggle to access even the most basic services. The Concept Note laid it out clearly—our tribal health systems need a complete overhaul, one that not only improves infrastructure but also respects the rich cultural tapestry of these communities.

Strengthening of existing health care system to ensure delivery of affordable and high quality healthcare to all tribal people

In the first session I attended, the focus was on strengthening the existing healthcare system. The presentation, packed with policy alignments and a slew of government initiatives, was a classic display of slide after slide of high hopes. For instance, the session highlighted the transformation of Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) into Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) units under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) initiative. It was a reminder that while lofty goals like universal health coverage (UHC) have been championed on paper, their real-world impact remains uneven.

The Suitcase Model

A particularly interesting discussion centered on the “Suitcase Model” introduced by BSNL—a foldable antenna system originally designed for disaster response—as well as on the use of drones and e-Sanjeevani-inspired telemedicine solutions. The idea behind these technological interventions was ingenious: portable, state-of-the-art solutions intended to bridge the connectivity gap in remote areas. However, the debate quickly heated up. One side argued that while these tech-driven solutions are by no means a complete fix, they represent a valuable step forward in enhancing connectivity.

In contrast, another group pointed out that even if supplies and data can be delivered efficiently, without trained personnel at the point of care, the impact remains limited. They stressed that what is truly needed is greater tribal representation within healthcare cadres, capacity building within communities, and the establishment of robust protocols and support infrastructure to ensure these innovations translate into effective, real-world care.

Another highlight from this session was the call to rethink our approach to tribal healthcare. There was a strong message against the “saviour complex”—the tendency to view tribal communities as primitive and in need of rescue. Instead, the emphasis was on empowering these communities through replicable, well-documented models that incorporate traditional healing practices. It was a refreshing shift, urging stakeholders to leverage indigenous wisdom rather than dismiss it.

Addressing challenges in adolescent, maternal and reproductive health among tribal people

The afternoon session I attended took a more focused turn toward adolescent, maternal, and reproductive health. This session, which I attended, was both inspiring and a bit sobering. The discussion centered on developing a comprehensive toolkit for adolescent health—a plan that involved training students at Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) through an incremental learning approach. These students would, in turn, serve as community educators, passing on crucial information about menstrual health, sexual health, contraception, and more.

While the idea of school-based interventions is commendable, I couldn’t help but notice a gap. The conversation largely revolved around the students already in these institutions—the “lowest hanging fruit.” But what about those children who have never had the privilege of a formal education? What about the dropouts and the girls who, for one reason or another, will never walk through the doors of an EMRS? The session was a classic case of excellent ideas, yet an incomplete picture. The innovative proposals, like appointing student ambassadors and leveraging programs such as the Adviga Programme in Odisha, were promising. However, they need to be part of a broader, more inclusive strategy that reaches every segment of the tribal youth.

Convergences

The conclave brought together diverse voices and ideas, with all discussions and final presentations converging on several critical themes. Participants consistently emphasized the need for diversity and cultural sensitivity in all tribal health initiatives. Leveraging local cultural beliefs and practices emerged as a key strategy for creating effective, community-led healthcare models.

There was a strong call for more granular, ethnographic research to develop replicable models that are both evidence-based and contextually relevant. The importance of digitization and disaggregating tribal health data was also highlighted, underscoring the need for detailed, tribe-specific information to drive informed policymaking.

Despite the plethora of government schemes, a recurring concern was the lack of coordination among various ministries, NGOs, international organisations, and other stakeholders. There is a pressing need for all parties to collaborate and share insights, ensuring that initiatives do not operate in silos but instead contribute to a unified, effective strategy.

Final Thoughts

In reflecting on the event, I observed that there was a noticeable lack of substantial tribal representation. While the event covered many important themes, the insights might have been more grounded with direct participation from tribal voices. Additionally, I found that the high expenditure on the event was disproportionate to the level of innovative insights presented—many of which are already available through focused research. However, the discussions were on the right track, and the convergence on key basics provides a silver lining. It is reassuring that all stakeholders are beginning to align on the core issues, even if the pace of change remains uncertain.

I remain cautiously optimistic about the government’s capacity to implement these discussions effectively, which further underscores the critical role of grassroots organisations in innovating on-ground and informing policy discussions.