- For long, the massive enlarged thyroid glands among the Korkus tribal living in Amravati’s Melghat region have puzzled doctors.
- Doctors would see Korkus, mainly women, with these abnormal growths, known as goiter, weighing over one to two kilograms.
- An annual surgery camp held at a remote hospital in Chikhaldara has however changed that.
- While goiter remains prevalent, doctors now see smaller growths in the tribe.
- Iodine deficiency is known as the common cause of goiter.
- But the staple diet of Korkus is fish, a rich source of iodine, and there is availability of iodized salt too.
- There are genetic factors at play- as per doctors
More about korku tribes
- The Korku are an Adivasi ethnic group predominantly found in the Khandwa, Burhanpur, Betul and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas near the Melghat Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra.
- They speak the Korku language, which is a member of the Munda languages and is written using Devanagari. They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe by the Indian government.
- The Korku tribe lives in small groups of huts made of grass and wood. Every household has elevated stage like structure in the front side of the house.
- This elevated stage is used as a storage space of farm produce such as cattle feed. They socially consume liquor made from the flowers of the Mahua tree which is prepared in almost all the houses. Predominantly, a rural-based community with 97% living in rural areas, Korkus are primarily cultivators
- Traditional representative body of the society known as ‘Korku Panchayat’ is found in many villages.
- Headed by a chief known as Patel, other members in the Panchayat include Padihar (priest), Kotwar (Chowkidar) and ten to twelve older male members of the community known as Panch.
- It plays a decisive role during traditional occasions mainly in festivals, marriages and intra- and inter-village conflict resolutions.
