Linkages between Food Security and the SDGs among Tribal Communities in Bihar

Abstract

Food security is a multidimensional concept encompassing the availability, access, utilisation, and stability of food, and it closely intersects with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among the tribal (Adivasi) communities in Bihar, who constitute approximately 1.3% of the state's population, the challenges of food security are compounded by geographical isolation, seasonal livelihoods, insecure land tenure, and barriers to accessing state entitlements. This study examines the linkages between food security and the SDGs within these tribal communities, situating the analysis in a district-level context. Drawing on secondary datasets such as Census 2011, NFHS-5, and program MIS (PDS, MGNREGA, ICDS, JJM), the research outlines how SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) is interdependent with SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The results indicate that while entitlements such as PDS portability and ICDS/POSHAN services improve access and utilisation, systemic gaps in FRA implementation, health coverage, and WASH infrastructure constrain long-term stability. The findings emphasise the need for convergence-based strategies that integrate livelihood security, nutrition interventions, climate resilience, and governance reforms. In doing so, the study contributes to policy discourse on inclusive development by highlighting that improving food security for tribal communities is not only a matter of entitlement delivery but also of enabling structural transformations aligned with the SDGs.