No housing prog for nomadic tribes of Andaman

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) The Government has not taken up housing programme for the Jarawas, Shompens and Sentinelese as they are hunting and gathering nomadic tribes and do not have permanent villages, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah said in a written reply that the Jarawa area has been declared as reserve area under Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulations, 1956.

In 2004, in compliance with the order of the Calcutta High Court, a Jarawa Policy was prepared by the Government with the objective of protecting the Jarawas from the harmful effects of exposure and contact with the outside world while they are not physically, socially and culturally prepared for such interface, to preserve their social organisation and cultural identity, to conserve the ecology of the Jarawa Reserve Territory. This policy is currently in operation, said the Minister.

UNI