Lok Sabha Question No. 5217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Island
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 5217

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 03/04/2023

## TRIBES IN ANDMAN AND NICOBER ISLAND

5217. SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Island;
- (b) the details of the population data of each tribal groups;
- (c) whether it is a fact that Jarawa tribes of Sentinel-island are not allowed to come in contact with other people living in different islands; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Indian Government for health and educational upliftment of these people?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS

(SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

- (a) to (b): There are six Scheduled Tribes in the Union Territory (UT) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands as given below:
- (c): Jarawa  tribe  groups  are  still  following  primary  practices  such  as  fishing,  hunting,  gathering.  The Andaman & Nicobar Administration has taken steps to protect and preserve the Jarawa habitations. The Jarawa policy provides that no person other than a Jarawa is allowed to enter the notified Jarawa reserve unless permitted by the competent authority.
- (d): As informed by A&N Administration, steps taken by them for health and educational upliftment of tribes of A&N islands are as given below:

| S. No.   | Name of the Tribe   | Population as on February, 2023   |
|----------|---------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1        | Andamanese          | 57 (actual)                       |
| 2        | Onges               | 128 (actual)                      |
| 3        | Jarawas             | 601 (actual)                      |
| 4        | Sentinelese         | 50 (estimated)                    |
| 5        | Shompens            | 244 (approx.)                     |
| 6        | Nicobarese          | 27168 (as per Census 2011)        |
|          | Total               | 28248                             |

Source: Andaman &Nicobar Administration .

The A&N Administration through Andaman Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS), a registered society extends all financial  support  to  the  tribal  students  of  Onge  &  Andamanese  communities  for  their  education  at  the primary, middle and higher secondary levels. Exclusive Middle level schools have been established in the tribal settlements for Onges at Dugong Creek, Little Andaman and for Andamanese at Strait Islands. Informal education system has been introduced amongst the Jarawa tribes through bilingual bicultural curriculum developed by A&N Tribal Research & Training Institute (ANTRI) and AAJVS. For the improvement in health, special wards for Particularly Vulnerable tribes have been constructed. The Administration, though AAJVS, extends health and other calibrated amenities preferably in-situ to the tribals. Tribals requiring Super Speciality Medical Services are referred to mainland hospitals on government cost.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs also provides funds to UT under its schemes based on their proposals for the welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes in the UT.