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Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri P R Kyndiah will tour the Tsunami hit areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the 11th of this month to assess first hand the problems faced and rehabilitation efforts needed to help the 6 tribal communities of the region.
In an interview to Doordarshan today, Shri Kyndiah said that the Ministry has already released a sum of Rs. 2 crore, and more funds would be made available for rehabilitation package. He said any tour undertaken by him before this would have hampered the relief operations of the local administration.
Meanwhile, a two-member team of Ministry of Tribal Affairs is already in Andaman & Nicobar since last week, assessing the damage to the 6 indigenous tribes of the region. The team has reported that all the 5 primitive tribes are safe, but the Nicobarese, who number about 28,000 are the worst affected. The reported condition of the 6 tribes are as under: -
1. The Great Andamenese - The Great Andamanese are 50 in number. They inhabit the Strait Islands in Andaman. They are safe and have been brought to Port Blair for the present. Their habitat has suffered substantial damage and they would require rehabilitation. They belong to Negrito group.
2. The Jarawas - The Jarawas are among the most primitive tribes and are at present a heritage tribe. They inhabit the middle and south Andaman Islands. They number about 270 at present. They are safe. Their habitat is jungle and high land and they inhabit western part of the islands. They also belong to Negrito group.
3. The Sentinelese - No contact has been established with the Sentinelese as yet. They inhabit North Sentinel Island in Andaman and during aerial surveys have been sighted. They are also safe. Although, no census is available about them, they are estimated at around 100 in number. They also belong to Negrito group.
4. The Onges - The Onges number about 100. They inhabit the little Andaman Islands and are located in Dugong Creek and Hut bay and South Bay. While the north is naturally protected from the Tsunami waves, the southern portion is exposed to the sea. However, it has now been reported that Onges are safe and have taken shelter in the hill, forest area in the island. They also belong to Negrito group.
5. The Shompens - The Shompens inhabit the southern most part of Nicobar Island and are located at Campbell Bay. Although they were feared to have been worst affected by virtue of their location in the southern most point and closest to Sumatra Island. It has now been reported through aerial surveys that the Shompens are by and large safe and taken shelter in the forest areas in the Island, which is a biosphere reserve. All the bridges in this area are damaged and efforts are still to reach Shompens by foot. They are primitive tribal group of mongoloid origin.
6. The Nicobarese - The Nicobarese inhabit the Car Nicobar Group of Islands which is mainly plain area and are feared to have been worst affected. They number about 28 thousand. Survey is on in Car Nicobar to assess the damage to the Nicobarese and at present 3000 are reported missing. Relief is being reached to those people.
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