Anaemia remains a persistent public health issue in India, disproportionately affecting women, children, and marginalized communities. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), 65.3% of women aged 15-49 and 31.1% of men aged 15-49 in Jharkhand are anaemic. However, granular data on anaemia prevalence among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), such as the Mal Pahariya community in Jharkhand’s Littipara Block, is limited. This study aims to bridge that limited disaggregated data by presenting field-based haemoglobin screening results from eight remote villages across two panchayats, namely Littipara and Karmatarn in Pakur district. A total of 278 individuals from villages including Makhnipahar, Keradoli, Jhapri, Kathalpara, Durio, Bada Pokhariya, Chota Pokhariya, and Gadapahari were tested for haemoglobin levels through community health camps in June 2025. The collected blood samples were analyzed to identify cases of anaemia based on World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds (<12 g/dL for women and <13 g/dL for men). The findings reveal a significant public health challenge, with an 82% overall anaemia prevalence. Gender-disaggregated data highlights that 90.1% of women and 67% of men tested were anaemic—significantly higher than state averages. Anaemia rates were especially alarming among adolescent girls, women, and elderly women, suggesting chronic nutritional deficiencies compounded by limited access to healthcare, clean water, and dietary diversity. This study highlights the urgent need for nutritional and preventive health interventions in PVTG-dominated geographies and reinforces the call for disaggregated, community-level health data to shape responsive state and national programs. The insights from this research can inform policymakers, health departments, and non-profits to initiate anaemia control strategies tailored to the socio-cultural realities of the Mal Pahariya community.

Keywords:Anaemia; Tribal Health; Mal Pahariya; Haemoglobin; Jharkhand