Ill-Treatment with Jarawas
Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Administration has reported 14 cases of ill treatment of Jarawas and other native tribes in islands during 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.
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.
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 Adim Janjati VikasSamiti (AAJVS) functions 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.
This information was given by Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Samir/jk