Alcoholism amongst Tribal Men of Melghat in Maharashtra State
Abstract: The pattern of alcoholism in India is uneven and influences socioeconomically diverse populations including the Scheduled Tribes (STs) who due to social exclusion, and inadequate access to healthcare and education services are vulnerable to substance abuse. Melghat is a relatively remote tribal area of Amravati district in Maharashtra, with a high burden of alcohol related harm along with malnutrition, infections, and mental health illnesses. This study sought to investigate the themes that underlay alcohol consumption among tribal men in Melghat through purposeful sampling and inductive thematic analysis of data obtained from in-depth interviews with men affected by alcohol abuse and focus group discussions with stakeholders from the village community (wives of alcoholics, elderly women, ASHA workers, and health officers). Diverse contributing factors responsible for alcohol addiction among the tribal males of Melghat have been identified and interpreted by the researcher including mohua liquor based traditional and ritualistic drinking, alcohol as a means to cope with socioeconomic hardships, early age of alcohol initiation, both at the household and tribal community levels, social enhancement by consuming liquor with peers and influential persons, dependence on welfare benefits with low motivation to work and earn, and availability of cheap liquor in small shops and addas. The family and community's insights on the effect of liquor addiction on them, their perceptions on the consequences of drinking on them, and the inhibitors and triggers for treatment, like distance from health center, community stigma, village seminars and pressure from wives have also been reported.
Keywords: Alcoholism, Tribal men, Melghat, Scheduled Tribes
How to Cite?: Shivani Khot, Dr. Richa Gupta, "Alcoholism amongst Tribal Men of Melghat in Maharashtra State", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1520-1525, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261021094503, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261021094503