Lok Sabha Question No. 7 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Ill-Treatment with Jarawas
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *7

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## ILL-TREATMENT WITH JARAWAS

## *7.   DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to State:

- (a) whether  adequate  steps  have  been  taken  to  protect  and  preserve  tribals  and  tribal groups, especially in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there  has  been  any  instance  or  report  of  oppression,  ill-treatment  of  Jarawas and  other  native  tribes  in  the  said  Islands  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current year;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken against the offenders;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan/scheme  to  provide  safe  environment  for  the tribals  in  Andaman  and  Nicobar  Islands  and  also  ensure  that  they  are  treated  with dignity; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the other steps taken/being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM)

- (a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT WITH REFERENCE TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 7 FOR  25-4-2016  REGARDING  ILL-TREATMENT  WITH  JARAWAS  BY  DR. SANJAY JAISWAL.

- (a) :   Yes Madam. Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956; Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocity) Act, 1989 (and Amendment Act, 2015) are some of the regulations/statutes for safety and protection of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Policy on Jarawa tribe of Andaman Island,  2004  and  Policy  on  Shom  Pens  tribe  of  Great  Nicobar  Island,  2015  are  also implemented for protection and welfare of Jarawas and Shom Pens tribes respectively, which are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Andaman AdimJanjatiVikasSamiti (AAJVS) funcutions under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 by A&N Administration to:

- i. protect and preserve Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs),
- ii. promote social, economic and cultural interests of PVTGs,
- iii. conduct research studies to identify specific issues of PVTGs and formulate policies and programmes, and
- iv. Protect health and prevent extinction of PVTGs.
5. (b):  Yes Madam.
6. (c):   A&N Administration has reported 14 cases of ill treatment of Jarawas and other native tribes  inislandsduring  last  three  years  and  current  year  under  SCs  and  STs  (Prevention  of Atrocities) Act 1989 and Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation 1956 in A&N Islands. Year wise details are annexed.
7. (d) & (e):  Jarawa Tribal Reserve has been created where entry of unauthorized persons has been banned. Traffic on Andaman Trunk Road has been regulated for ensuring protection and welfare of Jarawas. A&N Administration provides financial support to tribals for education and health facilities through AAJVS. Scholarships to ST students and implementing Tribal Sub-Plan as a part of UT Plan for socio-economic development of tribals are other measures.

A&N  Administration  has  constituted  A&N  Tribal  Research  &  Training  Institute (ANTRI)  for  research  for  bringing  out  possible  interventions  for  tribal  development, ethnographic  and  other  research  studies,  documentation  of  oral  tradition  and  traditional knowledge. A tribal museum is also planned.

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Annexure

## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  7  for  25.4.16 regarding Ill-treatment with Jarawas by Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal.

| Year       | Name of the tribes                                                                                | No. of cases                                                                                      | Registered under Section of Act/ Regulation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013       | Nicobarese                                                                                        | 01                                                                                                | 354 IPC r.w.s (i) (xi) of SC &ST (POA), 1989                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 2013       | Jarawas                                                                                           | Nil                                                                                               | --                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 2014       | Nicobarese                                                                                        | 03                                                                                                | 3(1) (x) of SC &ST (POA), 1989 r.w.s 504/34 IPC 376 IPC, r.w.s. 3 (i) (xi) of SC &ST (POA), 1989 33/353/186/189 IPC r.w.s. 3 (x) SC/ST (POA), 1989                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 2014       | Jarawas                                                                                           | 04                                                                                                | 365 IPC, r.w.s. 7/8 (2) (5) (6) PAT Regulation 1956 and 3(1) (xii) of SC &ST (POA), 1989 365 IPC, r.w.s. 7/8 (2) (5) (6) PAT Regulation 1956 and 3(1) (xii) of SC &ST (POA), 1989 7/8 PAT, 1956, 8(4)/8 (B) PAT amendment Regulation 2012 r.w.s 67 IT Act 2010, 3 (1) (V) SC/ ST Act and 14 (A). Foreigners Amendment Act 2004, r.w.s Para 3 of FRA Order 1963 3(1) (i) of SC &ST (POA), 1989 |
| 2015       | Nicobarese                                                                                        | 01                                                                                                | 186/189 IPC r.w.s. 3 (1)(x) of SC/ST (POA) Act 1989                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| 2015       | Jarawas                                                                                           | 03                                                                                                | 3(1) (i) of SC &ST (POA), 1989 r.w.s. 504 IPC 3(v) of SC/ST (POA) 1989 r.w.s. 7/8 of PAT Regulation 1956 302/109/376(2) (j)(n) IPC r.w.s. 3(2)(v) of SC/ST (POA) 1989 and 8(6) of PAT Amendment 2012                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 2016 (upto | A case has been registered 376(n) IPC r.w.s. 3(2) (V) of SC/ST (POA) 1989 and being investigated. | A case has been registered 376(n) IPC r.w.s. 3(2) (V) of SC/ST (POA) 1989 and being investigated. | A case has been registered 376(n) IPC r.w.s. 3(2) (V) of SC/ST (POA) 1989 and being investigated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 31.3.16)   | Jarawas                                                                                           | 1                                                                                                 | 7/8 (2)PAT, 1956, r.w.s 3(1) (I) (v) of Sc/ST (POA) 1989                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |