When Kandan, a tribesman from Nilambur in Malappuram district, recently died at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, due to denial of treatment, his relatives had alleged that the tribal promoter too did not act on time to save his life. Health activists and doctors point out that the functioning of tribal promoters is riddled with problems as they lack guidance and training.
Tribal promoters in tribal colonies are supposed to act as a bridge between government departments and tribespeople to bring them the benefits of welfare schemes. The promoters are also appointed at government hospitals to ensure proper and timely healthcare. They get a monthly honorarium.
A senior doctor with the Department of Community Medicine at the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, who has worked among the tribespeople in Edamalakudy in Idukki district, told The Hindu that without proper orientation and training, most of the tribal promoters are often found to be at sea. Because of this, the benefits of at least some of the government programmes were not reaching the targeted population, he added.
A medical officer in the Health Department, who has worked in the tribal colonies in Nilambur in Malappuram district, said on condition of anonymity that there seemed to be no auditing of the performance of tribal promoters, especially in hospitals. At least in some district hospitals, the posts of tribal promoters were vacant. There had been reports of delay in providing medical treatment to the tribespeople as the hospital staff wait for authentication from the promoters too. Ensuring the presence of a minimum number of promoters at all major hospitals would avoid this situation. He suggested that the government should provide a data bank of tribespeople and issue them health cards which could be furnished at hospitals at the time of treatment.
At colonies, the medical officer pointed out, there should be a duty roster to record the activities of the promoters for the month. They should also be asked to submit an action plan and action taken report to the tribal extension officer regularly. The tribal chieftain too could be informed about it.
The senior doctor at the medical college said that the hospital staff also should be made aware of the rights of the tribespeople. Displaying important contact numbers in government departments was also needed. This would prompt the hospital staff to contact them in cases of emergency instead of waiting for the promoter’s letter.
