Lok Sabha Question No. 2352 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Tribal Rehabilitation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, P.P. CHAUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2352

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## TRIBAL REHABILITATION IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

## 2352: SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI: SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in coastal areas after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and  tsunami  have  adversely  affected  the  way  of  life  of  tribals  especially  in  the  Andaman  and  Nicobar Islands;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures undertaken to ensure the continuity of such community traditions;
- (c) whether developmental activities are undertaken in tribal areas keeping in mind tribal values and traditions and ensuring their preservation; and
- (d) if so, the steps taken to ensure these activities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA)

(a) & (b): As per information received from Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami have not affected the way of life of tribals in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

- (c):    Developmental activities are undertaken in tribal areas of Andaman & Nicobar Islands keeping in mind tribal values and traditions and ensuring their preservation.
- (d):      The Andaman & Nicobar Administration for the welfare and development of the tribals in these islands has taken the following initiatives
- 1) Approx  3279.285  Sq  Kms  of  total  geographical  area  of  A&N  Islands  has  been  declared  as  Tribal Reserve Area under the A&N Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 as amended from time to time wherein they enjoy unfettered right for meeting their requirement of sustenance.
- 2) Tribal reserve has been notified for all Scheduled Tribes. Transfer, acquisition of land in tribal reserve prohibited.  Entry  of  non-tribal  in  tribal  reserve  banned.  Administration  is  strictly  implementing  the A&N Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 and SCs & STs (POA) Act for the safety and protection of tribes of A&N Islands. Policy on Jarawa Tribe and Shompen Policy are also being implemented for the welfare and well being of Jarawa & Shompen Tribes.
- 3) The  Administration  in  the  year  1976  (25.03.1976)  has  constituted  and  registered  Andaman  Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 to
- a. Protect and preserve Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
- b. Promote social, economic and cultural interests of PVTGs.
- c. Conduct  Research  Studies  to  identify  specific  issues  of  PVTGs  and  formulate  policies  & programmes
- d. Protect health and prevent extinction of PVTGs.
- 4) AAJVS provides free ration and clothes to the Onges & Andamanese and has also created amenities for supply of potable water, free ration, medical care, education, protection, communication through police wireless  and  provided  infrastructure  as  Community  Hall,  houses,  footpath,  jetty  for  berthing  of  the boats, helipad etc in the tribal settlements for these tribal groups.  The Administration also provides fishing kits, iron tools and other implements to the PVTGs.  The Jarawas, Sentinlese and Shompens, however, live in their traditional huts made from local materials.
- 5) The A&N Administration through AAJVS extends all financial support to the tribal students of Onge and 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 ANTRI and AAJVS.
- 6) The Administration is providing scholarships to the STs students for pursuing their studies at various levels.  An MoU has also been executed with Manidha Naeyam Free IAS, IPS Academy, a charitable trust located at CIT Nagar at Chennai, for preparing aspirants belonging to Nicobarese tribe for Civil Services  Examination,  the  expenditure  of  which  is  being  borne  by  the  Administration  through  the Integrated Tribal Development Agency headed by Deputy Commissioner (Nicobar).
- 7) One District Hospital, I CHC, 4 PHCs, 33 Sub Centres have been established to serve tribal population of 28530.  Special wards for Particularly Vulnerable tribal have been constructed.  The Administration, through 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 govt cost.
- 8) There is 8% reservation in Group C posts for the Scheduled Tribes of this UT.  There are 1208 STs in Govt jobs (Nicobarese-1179, Great Andamanese-22 & Onges-07)
- 9) Autonomy has been extended to the Nicobari tribes.  The Nicobari tribes represented by Seven (07) Tribal Councils are consulted by the Administration in preparation of the District Plans.  Their inputs regarding developmental activities required to be taken in their respective areas are given due priority while formulating District & Departmental Plans.
- 10) Tribal sub-plan is implementing as a part of UT Plan for the socio-economic development of tribal and tribal areas. Flow of funds to TSP is 8% which is equal to the tribal population percentage. As many as 26 sub sectors are involved in implementing TSP. Centrally Sponsored/ Central sector Schemes are also being implemented for the welfare of STs.
- 11) The  literacy  rate  of  ST  population  is  76  (2011  Census),  which  was  only  67%  as  per  2001  Census showing an increase of 9%.  The literacy rate amongst male & female is 80.9% and 69.9% respectively. The number of School-going STs Students is 5942 (M 3080 + F 2862) and ST Teachers is 415 (M 181 + F 234).
- 12) The A&N Administration has set up A&N Tribal Research & Training Institute (ANTRI) and made functional.  The objectives of the ANTRI is to provide input to direct a research led welfare policy, work  in  partnership  with  indigenous  communities,  act  as  clearing  house  for  research  proposals  and collect  conserve,  preserve  document,  analyse  &  makes  accessible,  set  up  tribal  museum  and  give training.  A Research Advisory Board (RAB) with Anthropologists as members has been constituted to advise the Administration regarding the functioning of ANTRI and to oversee the research activities of ANTRI and provide strategic inputs.

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