Annual Report of Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti for 2010 - 2011 ************
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ANNUAL REPORT OF ANDAMAN ADIM JANJATI VIKAS SAMITI FOR 2010 - 2011 ************ The Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti is an autonomous body mandated with the responsibility of implementing the welfare activities for the vulnerable tribes. In a meeting of the Island Development Authority held at New Delhi, during 2009, the usefulness of AAJVS and need for a Jarawa Tribal Development Authority was asked for. To take a decision, a meeting was convened at Port Blair on 10 th and 11 th May 2009, Chaired by the Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. During the meeting, it was decided that there is no need for a separate Jarawa Tribal Development Authority and AAJVS can look after the welfare of all the tribes, for which it needs to be revamped / restructured. A manpower study was assigned to the National Productivity Council, Kolkatta to revamp AAJVS and make it more meaningful, professional and useful to cater the needs of the Primitive Tribal Groups. But since, the report of NPC Kolkatta was not as per the terms of reference, AAJVS had prepared a report to suffice its needs. This report has been accepted in principle and AAJVS is in the process of revamping. The AAJVS is responsible for implementing various schemes and policies for the 05 vulnerable tribes (PTGs) inhabiting the A & N islands, i.e., the Shompens, Onges, Great Andamanese, Jarawas and the Sentinelese. To preserve the tradition, habitat and life of these vulnerable tribes of these Islands, the A&N Administration had notified different reserved areas:- SN NAME OF TRIBE AREA 1 Shompen 991.61 sq. kms 2 Onges 731.60 sq. kms 3 Great Andamanese 6.02 Sq.kms 4 Jarawa 1028 sq. kms 5 Sentinelese 59.67 sq. km On view of the increased tourism activities and the resettlement threat to Jarawas, an Expert Committee has been constituted to review the existing Regulation / Rules of protection of aboriginal tribes, and suggest amendments and procedural changes to eliminate violation of Jarawa Policy and to ensure better and effective protection of the Jarawas. The routine work of AAJVS is implemented under the directions of Executive Secretary, AAJVS and regular monitoring is done by the Secretary (TW). The developmental activities undertaken for each of the five vulnerable primitive tribes are detailed as under: A. The Shompens :- The Shompens inhabit the Great Nicobar islands. The Shompens are scattered in different pockets in the Great Nicobar islands divisible in various bands. Their present population is 219. The Shompens inhabit the following areas of Great Nicobar island:- a) 24 KM East West Road b) 27 KM East West Road c) 38 KM East West Road d) Jahu Nallah e) Trinket f) Alexandria g) Dugmar h) Kokiyon i) Kopen Heat Their present population is 219 as detailed below:- 1) Age wise population SN AGE GROUP MALE FEMALE TOTAL 1 0-10 24 14 38 2 11-20 23 18 41 3 21-30 27 19 46 4 31-40 35 17 52 5 41-50 16 9 25 6 51 AND ABOVE 12 5 17 Total 137 82 219 2) Area wise population SN AREA MALE FEMALE TOTAL 1 Alexandria 28 19 47 2 37 KM east-West 33 11 44 Road 3 35 KM –Do- 08 02 10 4 27 KM –Do- 15 06 21 5 24 KM –Do- 20 12 32 6 Kokiyon 13 17 30 7 Chingen 06 06 12 8 Trinket 02 01 03 9 Lawful Bay 12 08 20 Total 137 82 219 Prior to Tsunami the Shompens were inhabited in 09 bands. But, since a large part of the coastal area has been submerged by sea, they have shifted their residence inside the Jungle. The Shompens of 35 KM Chingen village which was situated at 35 KM has now been re-habilitated in the Agriculture farm at 7 KM. Assistant Commissioner, Campbell Bay acts as the Officer-in-Charge, Shompen Hut Complex, Campbell Bay and regularly monitors all the welfare activities for the tribes. The Shompens are hunters and gatherers. They very shy in nature and hardly we cannot find their female folks. Following are the schemes implemented for the Shompens:- j) Supply of free ration to Shompens under BPL scheme k) Supply of various items to Shompens during hospitalization l) Providing iron tools, fishing kits etc m) Providing education to the Shompens n) Maintenance of exchange system The annual plan outlay for the Shompens during the year 2010-2011 was Rs. 19.40 lakhs against which Rs.18.89 lakhs were spent towards implementation of various welfare programs. B. The Onges :- The Onges are 101 in number and settled in Dugong Creek. They are hunters and food gatherers. Even though they have experienced the taste of modernization and eat food with salt and spice, they still continue their traditional habits of canoe making, fish, turtle and wild boar hunting. They collect plenty of honey during the season concern. To make them self reliant, coconut plantations has been raised at Dugong Creek. They collect the nuts, make copra and sell it through their own Society i.e OMPCS ltd to another apex level Society M/s ANCOFED ltd. The demographic distribution of the Onges population is as under:- SN AGE GROUP MALE FEMALE TOTAL 1 0-10 22 21 43 2 11-20 11 08 19 3 21-30 07 06 13 4 31-40 03 07 10 5 41-50 03 04 07 6 51 AND ABOVE 04 07 11 Total 50 53 103 Following are the main welfare activities formulated and implemented for the Onges:- a) Extending medical facilities b) Providing fishing kits and tools c) Providing free ration & clothing d) Improvement of power supply e) Supply of free clothes to hospitalized patients f) Providing nutritious food to Onge patients g) Heath education among Onges h) Supply of safe drinking water i) Providing employment to Onges j) Maintenance of coconuts plantations k) Counseling and sensitization for non-consumption of alcohol, tobacco products etc. l) Persuading to continue folklore, traditional art and culture, celebration of rituals, hut and canoe making, bamboo works, hunting, food gathering, honey collection etc. Following infrastructural facilities are functioning at Dugong Creek for the welfare of the Onges:- a) Power house from two 18.75 KVA diesel engine, 5 PM to 11 PM. b) Drinking water wells – 04 nos. c) Medical Sub-Centre d) Police Wireless e) Community hall f) Helipad g) Primary School h) Two coconut plantations – 65 acres i) Staff quarters for 18 Government staff including AAJVS The annual plan outlay for the Onges during the year 2010-2011 was Rs.32.38 lakhs against which Rs.54.26 lakhs were spent towards implementation of various welfare programs. There are 36 school going children at Dugong Creek in the following classes:- Class Boys Girls Total I 0 00 00 II 04 02 06 III 01 04 05 IV 01 06 07 V 00 04 04 VI 06 08 14 Total 12 24 36 C. The Great Andamanese :- The Great Andamanese were more than 10000 in numbers but many of them died due to deadly diseases and their numbers came to 19. They were settled at Strait Island by the Administration. Presently their population is 55. Three Great Andamanese married to non-tribes, Shri. Loka Married to Smti. Prem Devi, Smti. Rangae married to Shri. Sukumar Saha and Shri. Meo married to Smti. Afasana Bibi. The present demographic distribution is as under. SN AGE GROUP MALE FEMALE TOTAL 1 0-10 09 09 18 2 11-20 10 05 15 3 21-30 01 06 07 4 31-40 05 03 08 5 41-50 02 02 04 6 51 AND ABOVE 01 02 03 Total 28 27 55 18 Great Andamanese are employed in various departments of the A&N Administration. 16 Students are provided quality education in private educational institutions in Port Blair. One student each are undergoing in Industrial Training Institute Dollygunj and ANM Training School, Port Blair in respective fields. The annual plan outlay for the Onges during the year 2010-2011 was Rs.115.82 lakhs against which Rs.15.49 lakhs were spent towards implementation of various welfare programs. The reasons for short fall in expenditure are non receipt of revised estimates from APWD. In order to eliminate the ‘dependency Syndrome’ among the Great Andamanese various self sustenance activities like their coconut plantation development, vegetable cultivation, poultry unit, etc. are carried out. D. The Jarawas :- The Jarawas inhabit in the South and Middle Andaman areas. They practice their traditional life style and culture and continue with hunting, food gathering, honey collection. An area of 1028 Sq. Kms has been reserved for their subsistence from Constance Bay in South Andaman to Lewis inlet bay in Middle Andaman. To implement the guidelines given in the Jarawa Policy ie., maximum autonomy, contacts with non-tribals, preventing of supply of alien food etc, AAJVS has deployed its employees at various pockets on the ATR, Tirur, Kadamtala etc. Besides this, staff has been deployed for night patrolling in Tirur and Kadamtala area. Three vehicles are deployed for intensified patrolling at Tirur, Jirkatang to Middle Strait and Kadamtala areas. Besides, motorcycles are also given to AAJVS. The Deputy Director (TH) accompanied by para medicos undertakes frequent visits to Jarawa habitats to administer insitu treatment. Only cases requiring expert advice are brought to the nearest Primary Health Centre / G.B. Pant Hospital, where they are kept in isolated enclosures called the Jarawa ward which again is declared as reserve area with proper notification. The Police, Forest and Health departments also plays a pivotal role in implementing the guidelines laid down in the Jarawa Policy.