Stop population influx, road construction to protect tribals of A

New Delhi, May 27 (UNI) Experssing concern over the rapid decrease in number of primitive tribes at Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an Expert Committee today recommended separate policies for each such groups, restricting influx of general population there, stopping construction of road at Great Nicobar and substituting road traffic by sea traffic.

The Committee of Experts set up by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to look into the policies and action for the Primitive Tribal Groups of Andaman and Nicobar Islands met here and recommended these steps to prevent extinction of these tribal groups.

It stressed the need for separate policies for each of PTGs namely Shompen, Great Andamanese, Onges and Sentinelese at the earliest. Though a policy already exists for the Jarawa tribe, separate policies for Shompen, Great Andamanese, Onges and Sentinelese needed to be put in place at the earliest. Moreover, implemenation of the policy needed to be monitored to ensure that at the grassroot level it was properly implemented. It also suggested studies of primitive tribals be taken up for formulating policies.

The committee was of the view that the vehicular traffic on the Andaman Trunk road passing through Jarawa Reserve should be substituted with the sea going vehicles and construction work on the road which runs through middle of Great Nicobar should be stopped immediately.

Due to influx of population and large scale construction, the Islands were witnessing acute shortage of drinking water, so immediate steps needed to be taken to restrict the population influx into the islands. Moreover, lack of sensitivity among, the general population who view primitive tribals as 'curiosity item' leading to adverse impact of the various activities on these heritage groups Great Andamanese and Onges, who are in full contact with the general population, education being imparted needed to be carefully reviewed and efforts be made to provide them education in mother tongue. The quality of teaching material in Great Andamanese and Onge also needs a lot to be desired from the pedagogical point of view.

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