Has a comparative study been made between the Andaman and
Nicobar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation of 1956 and Article
244, particularly the V Schedule in the context of PESA 1996? If so what
do they indicate? Would a demand for inclusion as Scheduled Areas be
appropriate?
Bijoy
> Dear Friends,
>
> Based on the discussions (which have been very interesting) and some of
> the suggestions, I am attempting here to put down in brief some of issues
> that are extremely important and alive at this point of time.
>
> For the purpose of this mail, I will restrict myself to elaborating on
> what is happening in the courts.
>
> There are three ongoing cases, one in the Supreme Court and two in the
> Port Blair Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court that are related to
> the environment and particularly the indigenous peoples on these islands.
>
> I) Supreme Court: In 1999, the Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology
> (SANE), Kalpavriksh, and the Bombay Natural History Society had filed an
> intervention in the Godavarman (forest) case in the Supreme Court. There
> have major developments that have occured since, particularly Oct. 2001
> onwards. After a lot of discussions and the report of the Shekhar Singh
> Commission appointed by the Supreme Court, the court passed a
> comprehensive set of orders in May 2002. There is lot of detail in the
> recos of the Commission report and also in the orders of the SC itself.
> The orders were wide ranging and included among others: a complete ban on
> the commercial timber extraction of the forests of the islands; the
> shutting down of the Andaman Trunk Road in those parts where it runs
> through or along the forests of the Jarawa Tribal Reserve; the closing
> down of the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Development and Plantation
> Development Corporation; declaring the islands as an Inner Line Area to
> deal with the very critical issue of the continued migration of people
> from mainland India to the islands; measures to phase out plantations of
> exotics plants here like teak, read oil palm and rubber; steps to deal
> with the encroachment issues; phasing out of sand mining from the beaches
> of the islands; appropriate materials for construction etc. etc.
>
> The latest on this is that some of the orders like the stoppage of timber
> extraction were implemented pretty promptly. Two key orders, the one to
> close down the ATR and declaration of the Inner Line have still not been
> implemented, though more than a year has passed since the deadlines
> imposed by the SC have expired, and the administration is clearly in
> contempt of the SC. This matter is now once again before court and is
> likely to come up in a hearing on the 27th of Nov. The administration has
> filed asking for a review of these orders and the petitioners too have
> filed explaining that there are no grounds for the review.
>
> The report of the Shekhar Singh Commission has been put up on a website
> that has been developed recently by us with the help of a couple of
> volunteers from Chennai. The website address is as follows
>
> http://protect_jarawas.tripod.com/
>
>
> II) Parallel to the above process, there has been an ongoing case in the
> Port Blair Circuit Bench of the Cal HC, that is related exclusively to the
> Jarawa Community. I will not go into the history and background of the
> case at this point of time, except to say the following.
> In July,earlier this year an expert committee that had been appointed by
> the court to look into matters related to the Jarawa submitted its final
> report. This report has also been put up on the above mentioned website.
> There are some very interesting parts in this report and perhaps the most
> interesting are the dissent notes by Dr. Bhattacharya and Dr. KB Saxena,
> two of the independant members on this committee.
> The important thing is that based on this report the A&N Administration
> has been asked by the Court to call a meeting of all those interested
> before a final policy for the Jarawa is drafted. The court has also asked
> the administration to invite people to send in their comments, suggestions
> and reactions to the report, which will be considered in the final
> drafting of the policy. It would therefore be very useful if as many
> people who are interested looked at this report (Its large - about 450
> pages) and made suggestions. If you need any specific help or further
> information please write to me at pankajs@... or Samir Acharya at
> sane@...
>
> Would also like to add here, that the background and the issues of the
> above two cases have been dealth in some detail in 'Troubled Islands', a
> compilation of my own articles that has been recently published as a book.
>
> III) The 3rd and the least known of legal interventions in the islands, is
> by the Nicobari Tribals of the Nancowry group themselves. The entire group
> of the Nicobars has been declared a tribal area under the Andaman and
> Nicobar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation of 1956. However there
> are in the Nicobars large encroachments on land by outside settlers, who
> have lived here, illegally for more than a decade and are in league with
> the police, bureaucrats and the politicians. The Nicobaris have asked for
> their removal and some action has been initiated on this front as well.
>
> In conclusion, just want to add, that the regulation mentioned above has
> been a key player in all these three cases.
>
> There are a number of other issues in the islands that are related to
> tourism, the larger tribal policy in the islands, conservation of the
> biological diversity here, etc. etc.
>
> I am sure many of these will also come up in due course and that in fact
> is the main purpose of having started this discussion group in the 1st
> place.
>
> Thanks
> Pankaj Sekhsaria
> pankajs@...
> C/o Kalpavriksh
> Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> 908 Deccan Gymkhana,
> Pune 411004
> India
> Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> Fax: 5654239
> Email: pankajs@...
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
Hi all
I'm reminded of a story that we were told when we were small, of a fox who
had his tail caught in a trap. He escaped but lost his tail. He then went
around telling the other foxes that it was the fashion of the day and that
they should get their tails chopped too. We've cut our tails, let the
tribals have theirs !
The point is one can always get "developed"(mutilate tails), but a tail
once mutilated will never grow back.
Erica
At 07:35 AM 11/11/03 +0000, ullaash kumar wrote:
>Dear Friends,
>I agree with Aletha's and Latha's Point of view.
>Tribals world over have sufferred brutally at the
>hands of the so called civilised society.
>It is better to live them alone. Otherwise we will
>lose a tradition of culture and knowledge.
>Why should we corrupt them with our ideas.
>They have rich knowledge on their own.
>there must be all efforts to stop the attempts to
>interfere either with the tribals or their ways of
>life and living?
>
>Ullaash Kumar.R.K
>
>--- chalakudy river river
><chalakudyriver@...> wrote:
>---------------------------------
>Dear friends,
>I agree with Aletha's point of view on this highly
>sensitive issue. Honestly how many of really
>understand tribals,their world vision? Are we humble
>enough for that? There is lot of evidence on how the
>primitive tribes all over the world are vanishing or
>becoming extinct due to the so called 'mainstream'
>barging into their cultures that has evolved tuned to
>their specific natural surroundings unlike ours where
>control over natural surroundings has been our
>'trained' world vision.Probably we have to redefine
>the term'civilsed'if we have to understand them .
>
>So we should sent as many materials as possible on the
>tribes of Andaman as pointed out by Aletha to the
>Ministry.This news should appear in the National pages
>of our dailies as well .Can anyone please give more
>information on the court order, stopping all attempts
>to interfere either with the tribals or their ways of
>life and living?
>Latha
>
>On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 Aletha Tavares wrote :
>>"It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>realise their
>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>.we will deal with them
>>anthropologically."???
>>
>>I wish people read their histories before making such
>outlandish statements!
>>The people on the Andaman Islands have been "in
>touch" with the so called
>>"human race" for centuries- there are instances that
>have been recorded
>>since the 16 or 17th C of them being captured & taken
>into slavery to the
>>Orient.
>>The British who attempted to bring them into what
>they called "civilization"
>>regretted the grave mistake, moreso after the
>syphilitic epidemic spread.
>>Soon after India's independence, came some
>anthropologists from
>>Calcutta(kolkata) who stated that since they(the
>andaman islanders) fell
>>into the hunting & gathering category- only certain
>amt of land should be
>>alloted to them for their "activities" & the rest of
>the virgin forests to
>>be utilized for lumber activities!- based on an
>anthropologist who had
>>studied them, worked with them, etc..
>>
>>Yes one cannot go & leave them as is, but
>simultaneously one cannot barge
>>into their lives & dress them into what we want
>"tourists" to see them as.
>>Till today so little is still know of them, their
>contact with the so called
>>civilization has only helped to bring their nos. down
>& die a slow death. &
>>moreover, we saying things about what not to do will
>not help them. We have
>>to come together to bring in a step by step
>solution-wherein they can live
>>with dignity the way they choose & the tourists can
>have their heaven on
>>earth spots without wanting to see " specimens" as
>part of their itiniary. &
>>we can do this. A series of articles about the
>history of the island, the
>>early interactions, the mistakes, the primitive
>solutons offered, should
>>first be made available & maybe then within this
>scenario- a solution can be
>>offered to Mr. Oram.
>>For eg. clothing them without teaching them hygiene
>will not save them from
>>disease, specially since their own way of keeping
>clean was so different-
>>covering themselves with the clay/ soil of the land,
>that helped keep the
>>mosqs at bay & also their own body clean. If one
>understands this then
>>before handing out a Tshirt to cover themselves up,
>one will think twice
>>about giving them something we think is beneficial
>but later will only be
>>harmful. These small so "cultural" understandings
>will go a long way in
>>everyone's interaction with them & thinking about
>their future too!
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>> From: rosalindad1@...
>[mailto:rosalindad1@...]
>>Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 2:11 PM
>>To: andamanicobar@...
>>Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
>mainstream A&N
>>tribals in seven years
>>
>>
>>This gets interesting folks!
>>If 'benefits' of 'development' is any indication of
>what is happening to the
>>Onge's and the Jarawas then I totally agree with
>Samir Acharya, this plan
>>should be shelved post haste.
>> Yes!and who decides the tribal 's cause??? Meeting
>an Onge in his own land
>>one is dumbfounded as there is no common languge that
>we share? What is his
>>worldview? Bangoleees!! Pigs!!?? Do we know what he
>thinks of his other
>>tribal cousins in the island??How can we then decide
>for him? Oram or any
>>other??
>> Alternately where can one get a copy of the Tourism
>plan for A& N Islands?
>>
>>Regards,
>>Lima
>>----- Original Message -----
>> From: <radhakamath@...>
>>To: <andamanicobar@...>
>>Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
>>Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
>mainstream A&N tribals
>>in seven years
>>
>>
>>This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the
>supreme court/NHRC on this.
>>
>>Radha
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>> From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
>>Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
>>Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
>mainstream A&N tribals in
>>seven years
>>
>> >
>> >
>> > disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...>
>wrote:Date: Sat, 01
>> > Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
>> > From: "disgusting_100"
>> > To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>> > Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
>in seven years
>> >
>> > Its a very interesting perspective.
>> > A political leader wants his ethnic group to
>mainstream and an NGO
>> > thinks it shouldnt happen
>> >
>> > Lots of value judgements happening here
>> > Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain
>in the way it had
>> > for millenia when the world around them is
>changing
>> >
>> > And who decides to exclude them from the
>"benefits" of "development"
>> > (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and
>"development")
>> > Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>> >
>> > Hmmmmm
>> >
>> > Sugato
>> >
>> >
>> > --- In andamanicobar@...,
>"pankajandaman"
>> >
>> > wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Dear Friends,
>> > > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series
>of five articles on
>> > the
>> > > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
>The third article
>> > that
>> > > was
>> > > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister
>and his plans for
>> > > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven
>years.
>> > > A worse fate for these tribal people could not
>have been conceived.
>> > > The story is pasted below and so is the link,
>which will help you
>> > > access the
>> > > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to
>post your opinion
>> > in
>> > > the
>> > > matter
>> > > Pankaj Sekhsaria
>> > > (Kalpavriksh)
>> > >
>> > > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>> > > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>> > >
>> > >
>http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has
>his way, by 2009 no
>> > > tribal of
>> > > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be
>part of the
>> > Primitive
>> > > Tribe
>> > > Groups.
>> > > Since 2002, his ministry has been working
>steadfastly to "reform
>> > the
>> > > tribals
>> > > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This
>is despite a court
>> > > order,
>> > > stopping all attempts to interfere either with
>the tribals or
>> > their
>> > > ways of
>> > > life and living.
>> > > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the
>Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>> > the
>> > > Onges
>> > > and the Great Andamanese are currently
>classified under the
>> > Primitive
>> > > Tribe
>> > > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry.
>(Indeed, this is the
>> > > first time
>> > > the Government of India has a separate ministry
>on Tribal Affairs
>> > and
>> > > a
>> > > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>> > > The minister says the PTG development has been a
>focus area for the
>> > > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a
>seven-year plan to take
>> > the
>> > > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75
>tribes in India
>> > are
>> > > part of
>> > > the PTG.
>> > > The minister says earlier efforts "proved
>disastrous" because of
>> > the
>> > > gap
>> > > between the plans and their implementation at
>every level -
>> > > economically,
>> > > culturally and socially. "This time, we are
>engaging with NGOs
>> > such as
>> > > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers
>are going to be in
>> > > constant
>> > > touch with the tribes to take care in every
>possible manner."
>> > > The minister, of course, has assured himself
>that his plan neither
>> > > violates
>> > > court orders and nor interferes with tribal
>life. ".we just want
>> > to
>> > > know
>> > > about them. It is not right to leave them as is.
>They should
>> > realise
>> > > their
>> > > surroundings - that a human race exists around
>them.
>> > > .we will deal with them anthropologically.
>People only offer
>> > > suggestions, we
>> > > want solutions."
>> > > On whether the Government of India has
>formulated any guidelines
>> > for
>> > > the
>> > > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of
>the tribals, he
>> > > says, "we
>> > > have asked them not to make the life of tribals
>difficult."
>> > >
>> > > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism
>Ministry plans for
>> > Andaman
>> > > and
>> > > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism
>should happen. It
>> > will
>> > > not
>> > > disturb the tribals. They are a little away.
>Moreover, we will have
>> > > restrictions."
>> > > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the
>nodal group which
>> > has
>> > > drafted
>> > > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal
>archipelago
>> > >
>> > > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar
>Society (SANE),
>> > which
>> > > has
>> > > been working overtime for the tribals' cause,
>says the ministry's
>> > > plan need
>> > > to be shelved immediately.
>> > >
>> > > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never
>get away with it.
>> > > They have
>> > > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges
>under the guise of
>> > > ameliorating
>> > > their living conditions. This plan should not be
>touched with a
>> > 20-
>> > > feet-long
>> > > pole."
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Kalpavriksh
>> > > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>> > > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
>> > > Pune 411004
>> > > India
>> > > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>> > > Fax: 5654239
>> > > Email: kvriksh@v...
>> >
>> >
>> >>
>
>
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Dear Friends,
It is never number or quantity that is the basis of jujdements. If it was
that, then how come Indian art and architecture, which is so prolific and in
much greater number and details, has never found a word in the world history
written by Westerners.
My answer to all this will be a that a few of us really inerested in their
need to develope, in the most ethnic way, may go down and live with them to
know them better.
My experience as an architect and filmmaker has taught me one thing for
sure....never to try to portray the people you hardly know. And if you
must....then you must live with them under their skins .....otherwise you
will hurt their sensibility. Here no one is talking about keeping them out
of the news, but any compassion towards their developement has to be a very
long process of making them aware of their own identity (with respect to the
outside), honouring their kind, and making them aware of all that has gone
wrong.
They are like the Tibetans without a Dalai Lama behind them....in the fear
of being engulfed by big powers.
I always believe that we the people of world have something very special
about us as long as we are a variety. It is this textured fabric that will
make us richer in culture, variety...which will automatically mean
developing as they are doing, rather than, us well meaning beings feel for
their backwardness........This is the time to ask whether we want them to be
as powerfully corrupt as we are, as fanatical as we have become, and as nuo
riche as we have become. Only because we are surviving as bigger numbers a
corrupted system.YES! AT THE BEGGINING OF ANY WORK THERE HAVE TO BE DREAMS,
UTOPIA, & HIGH IDEALS. In collage one of our teachers used to tell us deam
and fly into fantasy, luckily it doesn't cost us money.....to be practical
is saying good bye to the ideal and shaking hands with mediocrity.
Lets joins the Andamanians only to help them not become like us or any other
civilization but build an ideal so that we all may feel a breath of fresh
air about our doomed mankind.
With love
Jayoo Patwardhan
----- Original Message -----
From: <devi@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
mainstreamA&Ntribalsinseven years
It is not a question of superiority or inferiority. If we talk
dispassionately, then from an
abstract - albeit "unacceptable" and "cruel" - viewpoint the mere fact that
"our" numbers are more
than "their" numbers shows that "we" are better adapted to today's
environment.
If you can develop a index for human development for all "nations" then
surely you cannot per se
deny that yardstick to "them" and if we apply this yardstick what is their
status.
Whatever we may desire, we do not live in an utopia. The point I am making
is simple - our task is
to balance competing considerations. Right to be left alone by the rest can
be claimed by any one
or group. But most nations-states deny this to others.
In a democracy it is the "will" of the majority that decides but to the
minority who must accept
this decision it is unpleseant but they have to per se put up with it. We
accept this state of
affairs because it furthers the selection of the "group" as a whole.
So long as political boundaries exist the so called right of self
determination stands abrogated
for in any place there will always be that one or two whose "self
determination" has been quelched.
As to their memory being coveted - the reply assumes that I have attempted
to advocate their
"development" into our own clones. That is not the case at all. My
question - somewhat rhetorical
- is that can we deny them information about ourselves and our own
profligacy if you will, so that
they can take informed decision. A decision to remain as they are in
ignorance cannot be equated
with self determination.
To contextualise - was the Taliban right in proscribing the media and the
schooling of women -
after all it was also a matter of self determination by the Taliban? We
cannot escape making
impositions - we always do whether we like it or not. After all pleading
for Sustainable
Development is a form of imposition. Some impositions can be better
defended under certain
paradigms while others cannot be so well defended.
The long and short of the point I am making is simply this - the need is to
balance and allow
"informed decision making" and the make the process transparent and self
sustaining without too
much of value overloading.
devi
----- Original Message -----
From: C. R. Bijoy
To: andamanicobar@...
Sent: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 06:54:38 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream
A&Ntribalsinseven years
There are a number of issues that emerges from the ongoing discussion:
1. National affiliation are quite deliberate - brutally deliberate in the
case of all subjugated people, minorities etc. That is historically
speaking.
2. An assumption that "our" civilisation is superior to "theirs". This
follows the linear notion of progress, development and civilization which
are not substantiated by history, archeology etc.
3. An assumption that "our" life is better and "theirs" is not better.
4. For us they are "isolated" [but for them that state constitute
"freedom"] which we do not really understand as we belong to a society of
enslavers and slaves.
5. Who says that "they" are not developed..that development has skipped
them by..the ethnobiologists nor the biotechnologist and the MNCs would
not agree as these people do have in them etched in their memory the
biological map of their area of such economic significance that their
memory is coveted.....
6. Indigenous peoples have never remained frozen in time nor are they
fossilised. They too have progressed, developed, civilized etc on their
own terms. This process of evolution has also meant that they learnt from
the "outside" world as well as gave to the outside world.
7. Just as the fake notion of wilderness (manufactured in US) where
forests exist in isolation from human species, there is this notion that
there are some human (or is sub-human for some) species that have never
had any sort of contacts with the outside.....for eons until now......
The real question is that the "outside" has no right to impose their will
on them nor invade their territories so that the territories can be
colonized which are legitimized by the spacious false fraudulant mission
of civilizing and humanising and developing them. They as people have the
right to self-determine what constitutes best for them in their situation.
Bijoy
> THe points made are general and not confined to A&N alone. It applies all
> "indigenous" peoples.
>
> Firstly national affiliations are more often than not matters of accidents
> - historical,
> geographical temporal or all the three. They are as much Indian as any
> one or the other of us -
> When we were born into the political entity we are bound to it.
>
> As to imposing "civilisations" do we have a right not to try and make
> their life better? Can we be
> so selfish as to say we need not worry about these "independant" people
> merely because they have
> been so far isolated? If such an argument were to apply to A&N it could
> very well apply to every
> emancipation programme all over the world.
>
> The point - as always - is to strike the right balance - to respect their
> individuality without
> denying them access to development. That they should be granted the right
> to choose developmental
> model within the overall political framework - just as every other
> community ought to be whether it
> it the tribals of Narmad valley or the citizens of Delhi- cannot be
> controverted.
>
> We should seek this balancing of conflicts. Conflicts are the sine qua
> non of biological
> existence. What we should guard against is that the jarawa and
> snetinelese do not go the way of
> several tribes that have vanished.
>
> Brownie points do not matter
>
> devi
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: ANANT
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Sent: Wed, 05 Nov 2003 11:33:02 +0530
> Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
> tribalsinseven years
>
> Regarding agenda setting for development, in the case of the ethnic people
> of the Andamans, there is a distinct difference from the history of the
> mainland.
> Their anthropological isolation from us must make us cautious about
> imposing
> our agenda on them. They have quite obviously been independent in every
> sense of the term. Ideally, they should simply be left alone. The Orams of
> our polity need not look for brownie points about having "civilized"
> anyone.
> We have a huge population even otherwise, and if the plight of the
> wretched
> among us is alleviated, they can feel satisfied with their performance.
> There is also the question of geo-political identity. Do we have the right
> to control a people merely because of political boundaries granted to us?
> In
> what way are they "Indian," for us to assume the role of controlling their
> destiny? There is not even the question of informed consent here, because
> they are not in a position to assess the alternative, in the face of or
> corruptive influence.
>
> G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai, India.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Meena Menon [mailto:cats@...]
> Sent: 04 November 2003 19:06
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> inseven years
>
> Dear Rainer and others
> I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and
> drove
> through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The
> local
> administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
> Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
> infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
> understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
> the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
> in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
> witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined
> them
> as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
> decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
> some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years
> ago.
> Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
> what remains of these people.
> I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
> liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
> tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took
> away
> some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
> I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a
> great
> idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
> Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
> has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the
> best
> option?
> meena
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> in seven years
>
>
> Dear Sugato,
>
> you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
> Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
> different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
> very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
> those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
> what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
> habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
> Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
>
> The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
> with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
> villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
> able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
> about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
> visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
> Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
> judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
> like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
> their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
> made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
> times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
>
> Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
> what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
> encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
> dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
> not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
> relevance to theirs.
>
> A last point I would like to make.
>
> In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
> and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
> I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
> and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
> the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
> tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
> opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
> the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
> most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
> direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
> matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
>
> Any comments? I would be glad.
>
> Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
>
>
>
> Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>
>>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
> 14:09:38 -0000
>>From: "disgusting_100"
>>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>>
>>Its a very interesting perspective.
>>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>>thinks it shouldnt happen
>>
>>Lots of value judgements happening here
>>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>>
>>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "develo
> pment")
>>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>>
>>Hmmmmm
>>
>>Sugato
>>
>>
>>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Dear Friends,
>>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>>
>>>
>>that
>>
>>
>>>was
>>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>>access the
>>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>>
>>>
>>in
>>
>>
>>>the
>>>matter
>>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>>
>>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>>
>>> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>>
>>>
>>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>>tribal of
>>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>>
>>>
>>Primitive
>>
>>
>>>Tribe
>>>Groups.
>>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>tribals
>>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>>order,
>>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>>
>>>
>>their
>>
>>
>>>ways of
>>>life and living.
>>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>Onges
>>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>>
>>>
>>Primitive
>>
>>
>>>Tribe
>>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>>first time
>>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>>
>>>
>>and
>>
>>
>>>a
>>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>>
>>>
>>are
>>
>>
>>>part of
>>>the PTG.
>>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>gap
>>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>>economically,
>>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>>
>>>
>>such as
>>
>>
>>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>>constant
>>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>>violates
>>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>>
>>>
>>to
>>
>>
>>>know
>>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>>
>>>
>>realise
>>
>>
>>>their
>>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>>suggestions, we
>>>want solutions."
>>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>>
>>>
>>for
>>
>>
>>>the
>>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>>says, "we
>>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>>
>>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>>
>>>
>>Andaman
>>
>>
>>>and
>>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>>
>>>
>>will
>>
>>
>>>not
>>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>>restrictions."
>>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>>
>>>
>>has
>>
>>
>>>drafted
>>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>>
>>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>>
>>>
>>which
>>
>>
>>>has
>>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>>plan need
>>>to be shelved immediately.
>>>
>>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>>They have
>>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>>ameliorating
>>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>>feet-long
>>>pole."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Kalpavriksh
>>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>>Pune 411004
>>>India
>>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>>Fax: 5654239
>>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>>
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Dear Friends,
As a continuation of the series that HT.com is doing on the situation In the
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, they are now carrying another set of articles in its
2nd part .
Pasted below is the first of these which can also be accessed at the
following link
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/scorder.html
SC ORDER FAILS TO BLOCK KILLER ROAD
by Pankaj Sekhsaria | Tuesday, November 11, 2003
The Jarawas have opposed it for three decades; environmentalists and
anthropologists believe it will bring doom to the Jarawas and the forests of
the islands; and the Supreme Court of the country, too, has ordered it shut.
This is about the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) that is slowly but surely pushing
into oblivion the Jarawas, one of the most threatened human communities in
the world today and the original inhabitants of the Andaman Islands.
The Jarawa is a small indigenous community of Negrito origin that has lived,
survived and flourished in the Andaman forests for at least 20,000 years.
Little is known of them, their history and origin; of how they live in the
forests, and what is their social structure. What is, however, known for
sure is that they are being pushed to the brink by insensitive policies and
interventions; typified, most significantly, by the construction and
continued operation of the ATR.
The ATR connects Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands to the northern most town of Diglipur located 340 kms away. In the
process it rips through the lands, the forests, and the very lives of the
Jarawas. This road has, over three decades, facilitated the destruction of
hundreds of sq kms of pristine evergreen forests that are critical for the
survival of the Jarawa; it has sustained the rapacious timber industry here
for decades; it has forcefully taken away from them their forests and
traditional homelands; it has brought them disease and death and is even now
bringing into their lives the worst of vices that includes tobacco, gutka,
alcohol and now, reportedly, even sexual exploitation of their women.
In May 2002, the Supreme Court of India passed a set of landmark orders
related to the islands, offering an opportunity in the interests of its
fragile environment and threatened communities such as the Jarawa that live
here. According to one of these orders, that part of the ATR that runs
through or along the forests of the Jarawa, the Jarawa Reserve, was to be
closed to all traffic within three months. That should have been August
2002.
One can understand the neglect of the will of the Jarawa and the opinion of
a bunch of environmentalists. There is little, however, to explain how and
why a Supreme Court order passed in May 2002 still remains unimplemented
even today, more than a year after the deadline for its implementation has
passed.
The Jarawas continue to be subjected to innumerable, untold risks as the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands' administration keeps the road be open and
allows traffic on it. A historical opportunity to protect the Jarawa and
ensure their long term survival is being willfully let off and sadly, its
happening with continued disregard for the wishes of the apex court of the
country!
[Pankaj Sekhsaria is the author of the book 'Troubled Islands - Writings on
the indigenous peoples and environment of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands']
C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: pankajs@...
C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: pankajs@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dear Friends,
I agree with Aletha's and Latha's Point of view.
Tribals world over have sufferred brutally at the
hands of the so called civilised society.
It is better to live them alone. Otherwise we will
lose a tradition of culture and knowledge.
Why should we corrupt them with our ideas.
They have rich knowledge on their own.
there must be all efforts to stop the attempts to
interfere either with the tribals or their ways of
life and living?
Ullaash Kumar.R.K
--- chalakudy river river
<chalakudyriver@...> wrote:
---------------------------------
Dear friends,
I agree with Aletha's point of view on this highly
sensitive issue. Honestly how many of really
understand tribals,their world vision? Are we humble
enough for that? There is lot of evidence on how the
primitive tribes all over the world are vanishing or
becoming extinct due to the so called 'mainstream'
barging into their cultures that has evolved tuned to
their specific natural surroundings unlike ours where
control over natural surroundings has been our
'trained' world vision.Probably we have to redefine
the term'civilsed'if we have to understand them .
So we should sent as many materials as possible on the
tribes of Andaman as pointed out by Aletha to the
Ministry.This news should appear in the National pages
of our dailies as well .Can anyone please give more
information on the court order, stopping all attempts
to interfere either with the tribals or their ways of
life and living?
Latha
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 Aletha Tavares wrote :
>"It is not right to leave them as is. They should
realise their
>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
.we will deal with them
>anthropologically."???
>
>I wish people read their histories before making such
outlandish statements!
>The people on the Andaman Islands have been "in
touch" with the so called
>"human race" for centuries- there are instances that
have been recorded
>since the 16 or 17th C of them being captured & taken
into slavery to the
>Orient.
>The British who attempted to bring them into what
they called "civilization"
>regretted the grave mistake, moreso after the
syphilitic epidemic spread.
>Soon after India's independence, came some
anthropologists from
>Calcutta(kolkata) who stated that since they(the
andaman islanders) fell
>into the hunting & gathering category- only certain
amt of land should be
>alloted to them for their "activities" & the rest of
the virgin forests to
>be utilized for lumber activities!- based on an
anthropologist who had
>studied them, worked with them, etc..
>
>Yes one cannot go & leave them as is, but
simultaneously one cannot barge
>into their lives & dress them into what we want
"tourists" to see them as.
>Till today so little is still know of them, their
contact with the so called
>civilization has only helped to bring their nos. down
& die a slow death. &
>moreover, we saying things about what not to do will
not help them. We have
>to come together to bring in a step by step
solution-wherein they can live
>with dignity the way they choose & the tourists can
have their heaven on
>earth spots without wanting to see " specimens" as
part of their itiniary. &
>we can do this. A series of articles about the
history of the island, the
>early interactions, the mistakes, the primitive
solutons offered, should
>first be made available & maybe then within this
scenario- a solution can be
>offered to Mr. Oram.
>For eg. clothing them without teaching them hygiene
will not save them from
>disease, specially since their own way of keeping
clean was so different-
>covering themselves with the clay/ soil of the land,
that helped keep the
>mosqs at bay & also their own body clean. If one
understands this then
>before handing out a Tshirt to cover themselves up,
one will think twice
>about giving them something we think is beneficial
but later will only be
>harmful. These small so "cultural" understandings
will go a long way in
>everyone's interaction with them & thinking about
their future too!
>
>-----Original Message-----
> From: rosalindad1@...
[mailto:rosalindad1@...]
>Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 2:11 PM
>To: andamanicobar@...
>Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
mainstream A&N
>tribals in seven years
>
>
>This gets interesting folks!
>If 'benefits' of 'development' is any indication of
what is happening to the
>Onge's and the Jarawas then I totally agree with
Samir Acharya, this plan
>should be shelved post haste.
> Yes!and who decides the tribal 's cause??? Meeting
an Onge in his own land
>one is dumbfounded as there is no common languge that
we share? What is his
>worldview? Bangoleees!! Pigs!!?? Do we know what he
thinks of his other
>tribal cousins in the island??How can we then decide
for him? Oram or any
>other??
> Alternately where can one get a copy of the Tourism
plan for A& N Islands?
>
>Regards,
>Lima
>----- Original Message -----
> From: <radhakamath@...>
>To: <andamanicobar@...>
>Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
>Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
mainstream A&N tribals
>in seven years
>
>
>This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the
supreme court/NHRC on this.
>
>Radha
>
>----- Original Message -----
> From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
>Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
>Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
mainstream A&N tribals in
>seven years
>
> >
> >
> > disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...>
wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> > Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> > From: "disgusting_100"
> > To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> > Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
> >
> > Its a very interesting perspective.
> > A political leader wants his ethnic group to
mainstream and an NGO
> > thinks it shouldnt happen
> >
> > Lots of value judgements happening here
> > Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain
in the way it had
> > for millenia when the world around them is
changing
> >
> > And who decides to exclude them from the
"benefits" of "development"
> > (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and
"development")
> > Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
> >
> > Hmmmmm
> >
> > Sugato
> >
> >
> > --- In andamanicobar@...,
"pankajandaman"
> >
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Dear Friends,
> > > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series
of five articles on
> > the
> > > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The third article
> > that
> > > was
> > > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister
and his plans for
> > > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven
years.
> > > A worse fate for these tribal people could not
have been conceived.
> > > The story is pasted below and so is the link,
which will help you
> > > access the
> > > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to
post your opinion
> > in
> > > the
> > > matter
> > > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > > (Kalpavriksh)
> > >
> > > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> > >
> > >
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> > >
> > >
> > > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has
his way, by 2009 no
> > > tribal of
> > > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be
part of the
> > Primitive
> > > Tribe
> > > Groups.
> > > Since 2002, his ministry has been working
steadfastly to "reform
> > the
> > > tribals
> > > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This
is despite a court
> > > order,
> > > stopping all attempts to interfere either with
the tribals or
> > their
> > > ways of
> > > life and living.
> > > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the
Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> > the
> > > Onges
> > > and the Great Andamanese are currently
classified under the
> > Primitive
> > > Tribe
> > > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry.
(Indeed, this is the
> > > first time
> > > the Government of India has a separate ministry
on Tribal Affairs
> > and
> > > a
> > > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > > The minister says the PTG development has been a
focus area for the
> > > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a
seven-year plan to take
> > the
> > > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75
tribes in India
> > are
> > > part of
> > > the PTG.
> > > The minister says earlier efforts "proved
disastrous" because of
> > the
> > > gap
> > > between the plans and their implementation at
every level -
> > > economically,
> > > culturally and socially. "This time, we are
engaging with NGOs
> > such as
> > > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers
are going to be in
> > > constant
> > > touch with the tribes to take care in every
possible manner."
> > > The minister, of course, has assured himself
that his plan neither
> > > violates
> > > court orders and nor interferes with tribal
life. ".we just want
> > to
> > > know
> > > about them. It is not right to leave them as is.
They should
> > realise
> > > their
> > > surroundings - that a human race exists around
them.
> > > .we will deal with them anthropologically.
People only offer
> > > suggestions, we
> > > want solutions."
> > > On whether the Government of India has
formulated any guidelines
> > for
> > > the
> > > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of
the tribals, he
> > > says, "we
> > > have asked them not to make the life of tribals
difficult."
> > >
> > > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism
Ministry plans for
> > Andaman
> > > and
> > > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism
should happen. It
> > will
> > > not
> > > disturb the tribals. They are a little away.
Moreover, we will have
> > > restrictions."
> > > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the
nodal group which
> > has
> > > drafted
> > > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal
archipelago
> > >
> > > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar
Society (SANE),
> > which
> > > has
> > > been working overtime for the tribals' cause,
says the ministry's
> > > plan need
> > > to be shelved immediately.
> > >
> > > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never
get away with it.
> > > They have
> > > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges
under the guise of
> > > ameliorating
> > > their living conditions. This plan should not be
touched with a
> > 20-
> > > feet-long
> > > pole."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kalpavriksh
> > > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > > Pune 411004
> > > India
> > > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > > Fax: 5654239
> > > Email: kvriksh@v...
> >
> >
> >>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Dear Friends,
Based on the discussions (which have been very interesting) and some of the
suggestions, I am attempting here to put down in brief some of issues that are
extremely important and alive at this point of time.
For the purpose of this mail, I will restrict myself to elaborating on what is
happening in the courts.
There are three ongoing cases, one in the Supreme Court and two in the Port
Blair Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court that are related to the
environment and particularly the indigenous peoples on these islands.
I) Supreme Court: In 1999, the Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology (SANE),
Kalpavriksh, and the Bombay Natural History Society had filed an intervention in
the Godavarman (forest) case in the Supreme Court. There have major developments
that have occured since, particularly Oct. 2001 onwards. After a lot of
discussions and the report of the Shekhar Singh Commission appointed by the
Supreme Court, the court passed a comprehensive set of orders in May 2002. There
is lot of detail in the recos of the Commission report and also in the orders of
the SC itself. The orders were wide ranging and included among others: a
complete ban on the commercial timber extraction of the forests of the islands;
the shutting down of the Andaman Trunk Road in those parts where it runs through
or along the forests of the Jarawa Tribal Reserve; the closing down of the
Andaman and Nicobar Forest Development and Plantation Development Corporation;
declaring the islands as an Inner Line Area to deal with the very critical issue
of the continued migration of people from mainland India to the islands;
measures to phase out plantations of exotics plants here like teak, read oil
palm and rubber; steps to deal with the encroachment issues; phasing out of sand
mining from the beaches of the islands; appropriate materials for construction
etc. etc.
The latest on this is that some of the orders like the stoppage of timber
extraction were implemented pretty promptly. Two key orders, the one to close
down the ATR and declaration of the Inner Line have still not been implemented,
though more than a year has passed since the deadlines imposed by the SC have
expired, and the administration is clearly in contempt of the SC. This matter is
now once again before court and is likely to come up in a hearing on the 27th of
Nov. The administration has filed asking for a review of these orders and the
petitioners too have filed explaining that there are no grounds for the review.
The report of the Shekhar Singh Commission has been put up on a website that has
been developed recently by us with the help of a couple of volunteers from
Chennai. The website address is as follows
http://protect_jarawas.tripod.com/
II) Parallel to the above process, there has been an ongoing case in the Port
Blair Circuit Bench of the Cal HC, that is related exclusively to the Jarawa
Community. I will not go into the history and background of the case at this
point of time, except to say the following.
In July,earlier this year an expert committee that had been appointed by the
court to look into matters related to the Jarawa submitted its final report.
This report has also been put up on the above mentioned website. There are some
very interesting parts in this report and perhaps the most interesting are the
dissent notes by Dr. Bhattacharya and Dr. KB Saxena, two of the independant
members on this committee.
The important thing is that based on this report the A&N Administration has been
asked by the Court to call a meeting of all those interested before a final
policy for the Jarawa is drafted. The court has also asked the administration to
invite people to send in their comments, suggestions and reactions to the
report, which will be considered in the final drafting of the policy. It would
therefore be very useful if as many people who are interested looked at this
report (Its large - about 450 pages) and made suggestions. If you need any
specific help or further information please write to me at pankajs@... or
Samir Acharya at sane@...
Would also like to add here, that the background and the issues of the above two
cases have been dealth in some detail in 'Troubled Islands', a compilation of my
own articles that has been recently published as a book.
III) The 3rd and the least known of legal interventions in the islands, is by
the Nicobari Tribals of the Nancowry group themselves. The entire group of the
Nicobars has been declared a tribal area under the Andaman and Nicobar
Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation of 1956. However there are in the
Nicobars large encroachments on land by outside settlers, who have lived here,
illegally for more than a decade and are in league with the police, bureaucrats
and the politicians. The Nicobaris have asked for their removal and some action
has been initiated on this front as well.
In conclusion, just want to add, that the regulation mentioned above has been a
key player in all these three cases.
There are a number of other issues in the islands that are related to tourism,
the larger tribal policy in the islands, conservation of the biological
diversity here, etc. etc.
I am sure many of these will also come up in due course and that in fact is the
main purpose of having started this discussion group in the 1st place.
Thanks
Pankaj Sekhsaria
pankajs@...
C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: pankajs@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dear friends,
I agree with Aletha's point of view on this highly sensitive issue. Honestly how
many of really understand tribals,their world vision? Are we humble enough for
that? There is lot of evidence on how the primitive tribes all over the world
are vanishing or becoming extinct due to the so called 'mainstream' barging into
their cultures that has evolved tuned to their specific natural surroundings
unlike ours where control over natural surroundings has been our 'trained' world
vision.Probably we have to redefine the term'civilsed'if we have to understand
them .
So we should sent as many materials as possible on the tribes of Andaman as
pointed out by Aletha to the Ministry.This news should appear in the National
pages of our dailies as well .Can anyone please give more information on the
court order, stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or their
ways of life and living?
Latha
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 Aletha Tavares wrote :
>"It is not right to leave them as is. They should realise their
>surroundings - that a human race exists around them. .we will deal with them
>anthropologically."???
>
>I wish people read their histories before making such outlandish statements!
>The people on the Andaman Islands have been "in touch" with the so called
>"human race" for centuries- there are instances that have been recorded
>since the 16 or 17th C of them being captured & taken into slavery to the
>Orient.
>The British who attempted to bring them into what they called "civilization"
>regretted the grave mistake, moreso after the syphilitic epidemic spread.
>Soon after India's independence, came some anthropologists from
>Calcutta(kolkata) who stated that since they(the andaman islanders) fell
>into the hunting & gathering category- only certain amt of land should be
>alloted to them for their "activities" & the rest of the virgin forests to
>be utilized for lumber activities!- based on an anthropologist who had
>studied them, worked with them, etc..
>
>Yes one cannot go & leave them as is, but simultaneously one cannot barge
>into their lives & dress them into what we want "tourists" to see them as.
>Till today so little is still know of them, their contact with the so called
>civilization has only helped to bring their nos. down & die a slow death. &
>moreover, we saying things about what not to do will not help them. We have
>to come together to bring in a step by step solution-wherein they can live
>with dignity the way they choose & the tourists can have their heaven on
>earth spots without wanting to see " specimens" as part of their itiniary. &
>we can do this. A series of articles about the history of the island, the
>early interactions, the mistakes, the primitive solutons offered, should
>first be made available & maybe then within this scenario- a solution can be
>offered to Mr. Oram.
>For eg. clothing them without teaching them hygiene will not save them from
>disease, specially since their own way of keeping clean was so different-
>covering themselves with the clay/ soil of the land, that helped keep the
>mosqs at bay & also their own body clean. If one understands this then
>before handing out a Tshirt to cover themselves up, one will think twice
>about giving them something we think is beneficial but later will only be
>harmful. These small so "cultural" understandings will go a long way in
>everyone's interaction with them & thinking about their future too!
>
>-----Original Message-----
> From: rosalindad1@... [mailto:rosalindad1@...]
>Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 2:11 PM
>To: andamanicobar@...
>Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
>tribals in seven years
>
>
>This gets interesting folks!
>If 'benefits' of 'development' is any indication of what is happening to the
>Onge's and the Jarawas then I totally agree with Samir Acharya, this plan
>should be shelved post haste.
> Yes!and who decides the tribal 's cause??? Meeting an Onge in his own land
>one is dumbfounded as there is no common languge that we share? What is his
>worldview? Bangoleees!! Pigs!!?? Do we know what he thinks of his other
>tribal cousins in the island??How can we then decide for him? Oram or any
>other??
> Alternately where can one get a copy of the Tourism plan for A& N Islands?
>
>Regards,
>Lima
>----- Original Message -----
> From: <radhakamath@...>
>To: <andamanicobar@...>
>Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
>Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
>in seven years
>
>
>This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the supreme court/NHRC on this.
>
>Radha
>
>----- Original Message -----
> From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
>Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
>Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in
>seven years
>
> >
> >
> > disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> > Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> > From: "disgusting_100"
> > To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> > Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
> >
> > Its a very interesting perspective.
> > A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> > thinks it shouldnt happen
> >
> > Lots of value judgements happening here
> > Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> > for millenia when the world around them is changing
> >
> > And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> > (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> > Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
> >
> > Hmmmmm
> >
> > Sugato
> >
> >
> > --- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
> >
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Dear Friends,
> > > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> > the
> > > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> > that
> > > was
> > > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> > > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> > > A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> > > The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> > > access the
> > > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> > in
> > > the
> > > matter
> > > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > > (Kalpavriksh)
> > >
> > > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> > >
> > > http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> > >
> > >
> > > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> > > tribal of
> > > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> > Primitive
> > > Tribe
> > > Groups.
> > > Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> > the
> > > tribals
> > > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> > > order,
> > > stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> > their
> > > ways of
> > > life and living.
> > > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> > the
> > > Onges
> > > and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> > Primitive
> > > Tribe
> > > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> > > first time
> > > the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> > and
> > > a
> > > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > > The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> > > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> > the
> > > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> > are
> > > part of
> > > the PTG.
> > > The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> > the
> > > gap
> > > between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> > > economically,
> > > culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> > such as
> > > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> > > constant
> > > touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> > > The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> > > violates
> > > court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> > to
> > > know
> > > about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> > realise
> > > their
> > > surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> > > .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> > > suggestions, we
> > > want solutions."
> > > On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> > for
> > > the
> > > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> > > says, "we
> > > have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> > >
> > > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> > Andaman
> > > and
> > > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> > will
> > > not
> > > disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> > > restrictions."
> > > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> > has
> > > drafted
> > > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> > >
> > > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> > which
> > > has
> > > been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> > > plan need
> > > to be shelved immediately.
> > >
> > > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> > > They have
> > > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> > > ameliorating
> > > their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a
> > 20-
> > > feet-long
> > > pole."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kalpavriksh
> > > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > > Pune 411004
> > > India
> > > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > > Fax: 5654239
> > > Email: kvriksh@v...
> >
> >
> >>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hi
This mail has some good suggestions-Pankaj is it possible to quickly get
some background on the subjects raised in the mail below, since you know
much already.
Alternatively can the courts be approached to stay this plan of Oram's as a
first step?
meena
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aletha Tavares" <aletha@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 3:44 PM
Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
> "It is not right to leave them as is. They should realise their
> surroundings - that a human race exists around them. .we will deal with
them
> anthropologically."???
>
> I wish people read their histories before making such outlandish
statements!
> The people on the Andaman Islands have been "in touch" with the so called
> "human race" for centuries- there are instances that have been recorded
> since the 16 or 17th C of them being captured & taken into slavery to the
> Orient.
> The British who attempted to bring them into what they called
"civilization"
> regretted the grave mistake, moreso after the syphilitic epidemic spread.
> Soon after India's independence, came some anthropologists from
> Calcutta(kolkata) who stated that since they(the andaman islanders) fell
> into the hunting & gathering category- only certain amt of land should be
> alloted to them for their "activities" & the rest of the virgin forests to
> be utilized for lumber activities!- based on an anthropologist who had
> studied them, worked with them, etc..
>
> Yes one cannot go & leave them as is, but simultaneously one cannot barge
> into their lives & dress them into what we want "tourists" to see them as.
> Till today so little is still know of them, their contact with the so
called
> civilization has only helped to bring their nos. down & die a slow death.
&
> moreover, we saying things about what not to do will not help them. We
have
> to come together to bring in a step by step solution-wherein they can live
> with dignity the way they choose & the tourists can have their heaven on
> earth spots without wanting to see " specimens" as part of their itiniary.
&
> we can do this. A series of articles about the history of the island, the
> early interactions, the mistakes, the primitive solutons offered, should
> first be made available & maybe then within this scenario- a solution can
be
> offered to Mr. Oram.
> For eg. clothing them without teaching them hygiene will not save them
from
> disease, specially since their own way of keeping clean was so different-
> covering themselves with the clay/ soil of the land, that helped keep the
> mosqs at bay & also their own body clean. If one understands this then
> before handing out a Tshirt to cover themselves up, one will think twice
> about giving them something we think is beneficial but later will only be
> harmful. These small so "cultural" understandings will go a long way in
> everyone's interaction with them & thinking about their future too!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rosalindad1@... [mailto:rosalindad1@...]
> Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 2:11 PM
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
> tribals in seven years
>
>
> This gets interesting folks!
> If 'benefits' of 'development' is any indication of what is happening to
the
> Onge's and the Jarawas then I totally agree with Samir Acharya, this plan
> should be shelved post haste.
> Yes!and who decides the tribal 's cause??? Meeting an Onge in his own
land
> one is dumbfounded as there is no common languge that we share? What is
his
> worldview? Bangoleees!! Pigs!!?? Do we know what he thinks of his other
> tribal cousins in the island??How can we then decide for him? Oram or any
> other??
> Alternately where can one get a copy of the Tourism plan for A& N
Islands?
>
> Regards,
> Lima
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <radhakamath@...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> in seven years
>
>
> This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the supreme court/NHRC on
this.
>
> Radha
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
> Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
> Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in
> seven years
>
> >
> >
> > disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> > Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> > From: "disgusting_100"
> > To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> > Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
> >
> > Its a very interesting perspective.
> > A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> > thinks it shouldnt happen
> >
> > Lots of value judgements happening here
> > Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> > for millenia when the world around them is changing
> >
> > And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> > (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> > Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
> >
> > Hmmmmm
> >
> > Sugato
> >
> >
> > --- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
> >
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Dear Friends,
> > > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> > the
> > > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> > that
> > > was
> > > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> > > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> > > A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> > > The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> > > access the
> > > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> > in
> > > the
> > > matter
> > > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > > (Kalpavriksh)
> > >
> > > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> > >
> > > http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> > >
> > >
> > > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> > > tribal of
> > > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> > Primitive
> > > Tribe
> > > Groups.
> > > Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> > the
> > > tribals
> > > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> > > order,
> > > stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> > their
> > > ways of
> > > life and living.
> > > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> > the
> > > Onges
> > > and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> > Primitive
> > > Tribe
> > > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> > > first time
> > > the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> > and
> > > a
> > > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > > The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> > > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> > the
> > > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> > are
> > > part of
> > > the PTG.
> > > The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> > the
> > > gap
> > > between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> > > economically,
> > > culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> > such as
> > > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> > > constant
> > > touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> > > The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> > > violates
> > > court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> > to
> > > know
> > > about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> > realise
> > > their
> > > surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> > > .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> > > suggestions, we
> > > want solutions."
> > > On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> > for
> > > the
> > > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> > > says, "we
> > > have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> > >
> > > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> > Andaman
> > > and
> > > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> > will
> > > not
> > > disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> > > restrictions."
> > > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> > has
> > > drafted
> > > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> > >
> > > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> > which
> > > has
> > > been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> > > plan need
> > > to be shelved immediately.
> > >
> > > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> > > They have
> > > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> > > ameliorating
> > > their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a
> > 20-
> > > feet-long
> > > pole."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kalpavriksh
> > > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > > Pune 411004
> > > India
> > > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > > Fax: 5654239
> > > Email: kvriksh@v...
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
"It is not right to leave them as is. They should realise their
surroundings - that a human race exists around them. .we will deal with them
anthropologically."???
I wish people read their histories before making such outlandish statements!
The people on the Andaman Islands have been "in touch" with the so called
"human race" for centuries- there are instances that have been recorded
since the 16 or 17th C of them being captured & taken into slavery to the
Orient.
The British who attempted to bring them into what they called "civilization"
regretted the grave mistake, moreso after the syphilitic epidemic spread.
Soon after India's independence, came some anthropologists from
Calcutta(kolkata) who stated that since they(the andaman islanders) fell
into the hunting & gathering category- only certain amt of land should be
alloted to them for their "activities" & the rest of the virgin forests to
be utilized for lumber activities!- based on an anthropologist who had
studied them, worked with them, etc..
Yes one cannot go & leave them as is, but simultaneously one cannot barge
into their lives & dress them into what we want "tourists" to see them as.
Till today so little is still know of them, their contact with the so called
civilization has only helped to bring their nos. down & die a slow death. &
moreover, we saying things about what not to do will not help them. We have
to come together to bring in a step by step solution-wherein they can live
with dignity the way they choose & the tourists can have their heaven on
earth spots without wanting to see " specimens" as part of their itiniary. &
we can do this. A series of articles about the history of the island, the
early interactions, the mistakes, the primitive solutons offered, should
first be made available & maybe then within this scenario- a solution can be
offered to Mr. Oram.
For eg. clothing them without teaching them hygiene will not save them from
disease, specially since their own way of keeping clean was so different-
covering themselves with the clay/ soil of the land, that helped keep the
mosqs at bay & also their own body clean. If one understands this then
before handing out a Tshirt to cover themselves up, one will think twice
about giving them something we think is beneficial but later will only be
harmful. These small so "cultural" understandings will go a long way in
everyone's interaction with them & thinking about their future too!
-----Original Message-----
From: rosalindad1@... [mailto:rosalindad1@...]
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 2:11 PM
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
tribals in seven years
This gets interesting folks!
If 'benefits' of 'development' is any indication of what is happening to the
Onge's and the Jarawas then I totally agree with Samir Acharya, this plan
should be shelved post haste.
Yes!and who decides the tribal 's cause??? Meeting an Onge in his own land
one is dumbfounded as there is no common languge that we share? What is his
worldview? Bangoleees!! Pigs!!?? Do we know what he thinks of his other
tribal cousins in the island??How can we then decide for him? Oram or any
other??
Alternately where can one get a copy of the Tourism plan for A& N Islands?
Regards,
Lima
----- Original Message -----
From: <radhakamath@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the supreme court/NHRC on this.
Radha
----- Original Message -----
From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in
seven years
>
>
> disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> From: "disgusting_100"
> To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
> Its a very interesting perspective.
> A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> thinks it shouldnt happen
>
> Lots of value judgements happening here
> Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
> And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
> Hmmmmm
>
> Sugato
>
>
> --- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> the
> > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> that
> > was
> > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> > A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> > The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> > access the
> > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> in
> > the
> > matter
> > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > (Kalpavriksh)
> >
> > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> >
> > http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> >
> >
> > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> > tribal of
> > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Groups.
> > Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> the
> > tribals
> > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> > order,
> > stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> their
> > ways of
> > life and living.
> > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> the
> > Onges
> > and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> > first time
> > the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> and
> > a
> > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> the
> > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> are
> > part of
> > the PTG.
> > The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> the
> > gap
> > between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> > economically,
> > culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> such as
> > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> > constant
> > touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> > The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> > violates
> > court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> to
> > know
> > about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> realise
> > their
> > surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> > .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> > suggestions, we
> > want solutions."
> > On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> for
> > the
> > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> > says, "we
> > have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> >
> > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> Andaman
> > and
> > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> will
> > not
> > disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> > restrictions."
> > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> has
> > drafted
> > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> >
> > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> which
> > has
> > been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> > plan need
> > to be shelved immediately.
> >
> > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> > They have
> > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> > ameliorating
> > their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a
> 20-
> > feet-long
> > pole."
> >
> >
> >
> > Kalpavriksh
> > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411004
> > India
> > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > Fax: 5654239
> > Email: kvriksh@v...
>
>
>
> Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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This gets interesting folks!
If 'benefits' of 'development' is any indication of what is happening to the
Onge's and the Jarawas then I totally agree with Samir Acharya, this plan
should be shelved post haste.
Yes!and who decides the tribal 's cause??? Meeting an Onge in his own land
one is dumbfounded as there is no common languge that we share? What is his
worldview? Bangoleees!! Pigs!!?? Do we know what he thinks of his other
tribal cousins in the island??How can we then decide for him? Oram or any
other??
Alternately where can one get a copy of the Tourism plan for A& N Islands?
Regards,
Lima
----- Original Message -----
From: <radhakamath@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the supreme court/NHRC on this.
Radha
----- Original Message -----
From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in
seven years
>
>
> disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> From: "disgusting_100"
> To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
> Its a very interesting perspective.
> A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> thinks it shouldnt happen
>
> Lots of value judgements happening here
> Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
> And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
> Hmmmmm
>
> Sugato
>
>
> --- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> the
> > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> that
> > was
> > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> > A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> > The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> > access the
> > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> in
> > the
> > matter
> > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > (Kalpavriksh)
> >
> > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> >
> > http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> >
> >
> > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> > tribal of
> > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Groups.
> > Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> the
> > tribals
> > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> > order,
> > stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> their
> > ways of
> > life and living.
> > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> the
> > Onges
> > and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> > first time
> > the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> and
> > a
> > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> the
> > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> are
> > part of
> > the PTG.
> > The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> the
> > gap
> > between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> > economically,
> > culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> such as
> > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> > constant
> > touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> > The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> > violates
> > court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> to
> > know
> > about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> realise
> > their
> > surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> > .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> > suggestions, we
> > want solutions."
> > On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> for
> > the
> > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> > says, "we
> > have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> >
> > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> Andaman
> > and
> > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> will
> > not
> > disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> > restrictions."
> > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> has
> > drafted
> > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> >
> > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> which
> > has
> > been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> > plan need
> > to be shelved immediately.
> >
> > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> > They have
> > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> > ameliorating
> > their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a
> 20-
> > feet-long
> > pole."
> >
> >
> >
> > Kalpavriksh
> > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411004
> > India
> > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > Fax: 5654239
> > Email: kvriksh@v...
>
>
>
> Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
It is not a question of superiority or inferiority. If we talk dispassionately,
then from an
abstract - albeit "unacceptable" and "cruel" - viewpoint the mere fact that
"our" numbers are more
than "their" numbers shows that "we" are better adapted to today's environment.
If you can develop a index for human development for all "nations" then surely
you cannot per se
deny that yardstick to "them" and if we apply this yardstick what is their
status.
Whatever we may desire, we do not live in an utopia. The point I am making is
simple - our task is
to balance competing considerations. Right to be left alone by the rest can be
claimed by any one
or group. But most nations-states deny this to others.
In a democracy it is the "will" of the majority that decides but to the minority
who must accept
this decision it is unpleseant but they have to per se put up with it. We
accept this state of
affairs because it furthers the selection of the "group" as a whole.
So long as political boundaries exist the so called right of self determination
stands abrogated
for in any place there will always be that one or two whose "self determination"
has been quelched.
As to their memory being coveted - the reply assumes that I have attempted to
advocate their
"development" into our own clones. That is not the case at all. My question -
somewhat rhetorical
- is that can we deny them information about ourselves and our own profligacy if
you will, so that
they can take informed decision. A decision to remain as they are in ignorance
cannot be equated
with self determination.
To contextualise - was the Taliban right in proscribing the media and the
schooling of women -
after all it was also a matter of self determination by the Taliban? We cannot
escape making
impositions - we always do whether we like it or not. After all pleading for
Sustainable
Development is a form of imposition. Some impositions can be better defended
under certain
paradigms while others cannot be so well defended.
The long and short of the point I am making is simply this - the need is to
balance and allow
"informed decision making" and the make the process transparent and self
sustaining without too
much of value overloading.
devi
----- Original Message -----
From: C. R. Bijoy
To: andamanicobar@...
Sent: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 06:54:38 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream
A&Ntribalsinseven years
There are a number of issues that emerges from the ongoing discussion:
1. National affiliation are quite deliberate - brutally deliberate in the
case of all subjugated people, minorities etc. That is historically
speaking.
2. An assumption that "our" civilisation is superior to "theirs". This
follows the linear notion of progress, development and civilization which
are not substantiated by history, archeology etc.
3. An assumption that "our" life is better and "theirs" is not better.
4. For us they are "isolated" [but for them that state constitute
"freedom"] which we do not really understand as we belong to a society of
enslavers and slaves.
5. Who says that "they" are not developed..that development has skipped
them by..the ethnobiologists nor the biotechnologist and the MNCs would
not agree as these people do have in them etched in their memory the
biological map of their area of such economic significance that their
memory is coveted.....
6. Indigenous peoples have never remained frozen in time nor are they
fossilised. They too have progressed, developed, civilized etc on their
own terms. This process of evolution has also meant that they learnt from
the "outside" world as well as gave to the outside world.
7. Just as the fake notion of wilderness (manufactured in US) where
forests exist in isolation from human species, there is this notion that
there are some human (or is sub-human for some) species that have never
had any sort of contacts with the outside.....for eons until now......
The real question is that the "outside" has no right to impose their will
on them nor invade their territories so that the territories can be
colonized which are legitimized by the spacious false fraudulant mission
of civilizing and humanising and developing them. They as people have the
right to self-determine what constitutes best for them in their situation.
Bijoy
> THe points made are general and not confined to A&N alone. It applies all
> "indigenous" peoples.
>
> Firstly national affiliations are more often than not matters of accidents
> - historical,
> geographical temporal or all the three. They are as much Indian as any
> one or the other of us -
> When we were born into the political entity we are bound to it.
>
> As to imposing "civilisations" do we have a right not to try and make
> their life better? Can we be
> so selfish as to say we need not worry about these "independant" people
> merely because they have
> been so far isolated? If such an argument were to apply to A&N it could
> very well apply to every
> emancipation programme all over the world.
>
> The point - as always - is to strike the right balance - to respect their
> individuality without
> denying them access to development. That they should be granted the right
> to choose developmental
> model within the overall political framework - just as every other
> community ought to be whether it
> it the tribals of Narmad valley or the citizens of Delhi- cannot be
> controverted.
>
> We should seek this balancing of conflicts. Conflicts are the sine qua
> non of biological
> existence. What we should guard against is that the jarawa and
> snetinelese do not go the way of
> several tribes that have vanished.
>
> Brownie points do not matter
>
> devi
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: ANANT
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Sent: Wed, 05 Nov 2003 11:33:02 +0530
> Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
> tribalsinseven years
>
> Regarding agenda setting for development, in the case of the ethnic people
> of the Andamans, there is a distinct difference from the history of the
> mainland.
> Their anthropological isolation from us must make us cautious about
> imposing
> our agenda on them. They have quite obviously been independent in every
> sense of the term. Ideally, they should simply be left alone. The Orams of
> our polity need not look for brownie points about having “civilized”
> anyone.
> We have a huge population even otherwise, and if the plight of the
> wretched
> among us is alleviated, they can feel satisfied with their performance.
> There is also the question of geo-political identity. Do we have the right
> to control a people merely because of political boundaries granted to us?
> In
> what way are they “Indian,” for us to assume the role of controlling their
> destiny? There is not even the question of informed consent here, because
> they are not in a position to assess the alternative, in the face of or
> corruptive influence.
>
> G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai, India.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Meena Menon [mailto:cats@...]
> Sent: 04 November 2003 19:06
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> inseven years
>
> Dear Rainer and others
> I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and
> drove
> through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The
> local
> administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
> Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
> infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
> understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
> the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
> in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
> witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined
> them
> as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
> decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
> some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years
> ago.
> Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
> what remains of these people.
> I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
> liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
> tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took
> away
> some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
> I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a
> great
> idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
> Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
> has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the
> best
> option?
> meena
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> in seven years
>
>
> Dear Sugato,
>
> you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
> Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
> different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
> very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
> those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
> what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
> habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
> Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
>
> The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
> with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
> villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
> able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
> about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
> visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
> Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
> judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
> like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
> their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
> made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
> times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
>
> Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
> what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
> encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
> dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
> not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
> relevance to theirs.
>
> A last point I would like to make.
>
> In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
> and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
> I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
> and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
> the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
> tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
> opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
> the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
> most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
> direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
> matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
>
> Any comments? I would be glad.
>
> Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
>
>
>
> Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>
>>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
> 14:09:38 -0000
>>From: "disgusting_100"
>>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>>
>>Its a very interesting perspective.
>>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>>thinks it shouldnt happen
>>
>>Lots of value judgements happening here
>>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>>
>>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "develo
> pment")
>>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>>
>>Hmmmmm
>>
>>Sugato
>>
>>
>>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Dear Friends,
>>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>>
>>>
>>that
>>
>>
>>>was
>>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>>access the
>>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>>
>>>
>>in
>>
>>
>>>the
>>>matter
>>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>>
>>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>>
>>> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>>
>>>
>>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>>tribal of
>>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>>
>>>
>>Primitive
>>
>>
>>>Tribe
>>>Groups.
>>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>tribals
>>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>>order,
>>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>>
>>>
>>their
>>
>>
>>>ways of
>>>life and living.
>>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>Onges
>>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>>
>>>
>>Primitive
>>
>>
>>>Tribe
>>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>>first time
>>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>>
>>>
>>and
>>
>>
>>>a
>>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>>
>>>
>>are
>>
>>
>>>part of
>>>the PTG.
>>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>gap
>>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>>economically,
>>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>>
>>>
>>such as
>>
>>
>>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>>constant
>>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>>violates
>>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>>
>>>
>>to
>>
>>
>>>know
>>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>>
>>>
>>realise
>>
>>
>>>their
>>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>>suggestions, we
>>>want solutions."
>>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>>
>>>
>>for
>>
>>
>>>the
>>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>>says, "we
>>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>>
>>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>>
>>>
>>Andaman
>>
>>
>>>and
>>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>>
>>>
>>will
>>
>>
>>>not
>>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>>restrictions."
>>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>>
>>>
>>has
>>
>>
>>>drafted
>>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>>
>>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>>
>>>
>>which
>>
>>
>>>has
>>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>>plan need
>>>to be shelved immediately.
>>>
>>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>>They have
>>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>>ameliorating
>>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>>feet-long
>>>pole."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Kalpavriksh
>>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>>Pune 411004
>>>India
>>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>>Fax: 5654239
>>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>>
>>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
It is the nature of things around us that if you try
to them they change their character.We would be doing
a service if we did not try to know them in Andaman
either.
However, Pankaj tells me that the 'developed' world is
forcing and undesirable change. So, there has to be a
well meaning force to root these guys out - kante se
kanta nikalta hai.
Subroto Roy
--- Nachiket & Jayoo Patwardhan
<baguram@...> wrote:
> Dear Friend,
>
> So true ...the real colonising starts like this
> and end with a burden
> that we are carrying,
> makes it difficult to recognise our real identity.As
> Indians these days we
> are an extremely
> corrupted people.......If,after the British had left
> and the brown sahebs
> like Nehru hadnt
> made rules of the game and we had been left alone
> to have our own
> agricultural and ethnic
> priorities we would at least have have had water
> leave aside self respect.
>
> How can we make agendas for people we know nothing
> about!In doing so we
> might just
> hurt their sensibilities and ruin their culture.
>
> I couldnt agree with you more.
>
> Jayoo Patwardhan.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: ANANT <ganant@...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 11:33 AM
> Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
> mainstream A&N
> tribalsinseven years
>
>
> Regarding agenda setting for development, in the
> case of the ethnic people
> of the Andamans, there is a distinct difference from
> the history of the
> mainland.
> Their anthropological isolation from us must make us
> cautious about imposing
> our agenda on them. They have quite obviously been
> independent in every
> sense of the term. Ideally, they should simply be
> left alone. The Orams of
> our polity need not look for brownie points about
> having "civilized" anyone.
> We have a huge population even otherwise, and if the
> plight of the wretched
> among us is alleviated, they can feel satisfied with
> their performance.
> There is also the question of geo-political
> identity. Do we have the right
> to control a people merely because of political
> boundaries granted to us? In
> what way are they "Indian," for us to assume the
> role of controlling their
> destiny? There is not even the question of informed
> consent here, because
> they are not in a position to assess the
> alternative, in the face of or
> corruptive influence.
>
> G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai, India.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Meena Menon [mailto:cats@...]
> Sent: 04 November 2003 19:06
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
> mainstream A&N tribals
> inseven years
>
> Dear Rainer and others
> I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple
> of years ago and drove
> through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so
> many Jarawa. The local
> administration has actually put up signs along this
> road saying beware of
> Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures.
> While the government has
> infested the beautiful islands with other settlers,
> there is no attempt to
> understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local
> people are hostile to
> the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa
> dressed flamboyantly dressed
> in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was
> a horrific sight to
> witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful
> islands and ruined them
> as a people. In fact contact with our so called
> wonderful civilisation has
> decimated these people- there was a huge measles
> epidemic among them after
> some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give
> them food some years ago.
> Oram is only furthering this stupid process and
> will probably finish off
> what remains of these people.
> I saw at that time that some people were interacting
> with the Jarawa and
> liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist
> attractions - and know
> tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped
> our vehicle and took away
> some things- this is the result of their contact
> with our great world.
> I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure
> tourism is such a great
> idea having been there once and seen the damage we
> tourists can cause. The
> Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help
> them? CAn someone who
> has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is
> leaving them alone the best
> option?
> meena
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to
> mainstream A&N tribals
> in seven years
>
>
> Dear Sugato,
>
> you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in
> the situation of the
> Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in
> is indeed so
> different from the one we "civilized" have created
> around us that it is
> very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication
> happening between
> those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a
> Jarawa on M.G. Road,
> what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet
> within their own
> habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the
> weather, latest
> Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
>
> The Andaman tribes people are different in the way
> that their contact
> with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may
> visit Adivasi
> villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance
> and you will be
> able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and
> you can ask them
> about their problems and how they imagine them to be
> solved. After a
> visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell
> you: Encountering a
> Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their
> habits, you cannot
> judge their reactions. How then can you try to
> find out whether they
> like the settlers or not, whether they would like to
> have a road through
> their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road
> at least, they have
> made their stand very clear by raiding the
> construction camps many
> times. But in many other issues, it is not that
> easy.
>
> Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle
> Tom. How can he decide
> what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans
> whom he has never
> encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been
> forced on the jungle
> dwellers, that they can exercise their free will
> towards development or
> not. Development again is a construct of our world
> with hardly any
> relevance to theirs.
>
> A last point I would like to make.
>
> In the discussion about tourism it is good to first
> stick in your pole
> and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on
> the tribes people.
> I presume that if the administration would
> simultanously close the road
> and effectively take care that no intrusion by
> settlers can happen into
> the tribes territories, then I can see not reason
> why the visit of
> tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas.
> Instead of fundamentally
> opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a
> bargain by putting
> the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway,
> after the closure of
>
=== message truncated ===
__________________________________
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There are a number of issues that emerges from the ongoing discussion:
1. National affiliation are quite deliberate - brutally deliberate in the
case of all subjugated people, minorities etc. That is historically
speaking.
2. An assumption that "our" civilisation is superior to "theirs". This
follows the linear notion of progress, development and civilization which
are not substantiated by history, archeology etc.
3. An assumption that "our" life is better and "theirs" is not better.
4. For us they are "isolated" [but for them that state constitute
"freedom"] which we do not really understand as we belong to a society of
enslavers and slaves.
5. Who says that "they" are not developed..that development has skipped
them by..the ethnobiologists nor the biotechnologist and the MNCs would
not agree as these people do have in them etched in their memory the
biological map of their area of such economic significance that their
memory is coveted.....
6. Indigenous peoples have never remained frozen in time nor are they
fossilised. They too have progressed, developed, civilized etc on their
own terms. This process of evolution has also meant that they learnt from
the "outside" world as well as gave to the outside world.
7. Just as the fake notion of wilderness (manufactured in US) where
forests exist in isolation from human species, there is this notion that
there are some human (or is sub-human for some) species that have never
had any sort of contacts with the outside.....for eons until now......
The real question is that the "outside" has no right to impose their will
on them nor invade their territories so that the territories can be
colonized which are legitimized by the spacious false fraudulant mission
of civilizing and humanising and developing them. They as people have the
right to self-determine what constitutes best for them in their situation.
Bijoy
> THe points made are general and not confined to A&N alone. It applies all
> "indigenous" peoples.
>
> Firstly national affiliations are more often than not matters of accidents
> - historical,
> geographical temporal or all the three. They are as much Indian as any
> one or the other of us -
> When we were born into the political entity we are bound to it.
>
> As to imposing "civilisations" do we have a right not to try and make
> their life better? Can we be
> so selfish as to say we need not worry about these "independant" people
> merely because they have
> been so far isolated? If such an argument were to apply to A&N it could
> very well apply to every
> emancipation programme all over the world.
>
> The point - as always - is to strike the right balance - to respect their
> individuality without
> denying them access to development. That they should be granted the right
> to choose developmental
> model within the overall political framework - just as every other
> community ought to be whether it
> it the tribals of Narmad valley or the citizens of Delhi- cannot be
> controverted.
>
> We should seek this balancing of conflicts. Conflicts are the sine qua
> non of biological
> existence. What we should guard against is that the jarawa and
> snetinelese do not go the way of
> several tribes that have vanished.
>
> Brownie points do not matter
>
> devi
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: ANANT
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Sent: Wed, 05 Nov 2003 11:33:02 +0530
> Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
> tribalsinseven years
>
> Regarding agenda setting for development, in the case of the ethnic people
> of the Andamans, there is a distinct difference from the history of the
> mainland.
> Their anthropological isolation from us must make us cautious about
> imposing
> our agenda on them. They have quite obviously been independent in every
> sense of the term. Ideally, they should simply be left alone. The Orams of
> our polity need not look for brownie points about having “civilized”
> anyone.
> We have a huge population even otherwise, and if the plight of the
> wretched
> among us is alleviated, they can feel satisfied with their performance.
> There is also the question of geo-political identity. Do we have the right
> to control a people merely because of political boundaries granted to us?
> In
> what way are they “Indian,” for us to assume the role of controlling their
> destiny? There is not even the question of informed consent here, because
> they are not in a position to assess the alternative, in the face of or
> corruptive influence.
>
> G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai, India.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Meena Menon [mailto:cats@...]
> Sent: 04 November 2003 19:06
> To: andamanicobar@...
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> inseven years
>
> Dear Rainer and others
> I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and
> drove
> through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The
> local
> administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
> Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
> infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
> understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
> the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
> in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
> witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined
> them
> as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
> decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
> some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years
> ago.
> Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
> what remains of these people.
> I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
> liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
> tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took
> away
> some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
> I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a
> great
> idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
> Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
> has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the
> best
> option?
> meena
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> in seven years
>
>
> Dear Sugato,
>
> you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
> Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
> different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
> very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
> those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
> what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
> habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
> Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
>
> The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
> with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
> villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
> able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
> about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
> visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
> Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
> judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
> like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
> their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
> made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
> times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
>
> Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
> what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
> encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
> dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
> not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
> relevance to theirs.
>
> A last point I would like to make.
>
> In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
> and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
> I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
> and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
> the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
> tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
> opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
> the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
> most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
> direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
> matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
>
> Any comments? I would be glad.
>
> Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
>
>
>
> Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>
>>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
> 14:09:38 -0000
>>From: "disgusting_100"
>>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>>
>>Its a very interesting perspective.
>>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>>thinks it shouldnt happen
>>
>>Lots of value judgements happening here
>>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>>
>>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "develo
> pment")
>>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>>
>>Hmmmmm
>>
>>Sugato
>>
>>
>>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Dear Friends,
>>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>>
>>>
>>that
>>
>>
>>>was
>>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>>access the
>>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>>
>>>
>>in
>>
>>
>>>the
>>>matter
>>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>>
>>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>>
>>> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>>
>>>
>>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>>tribal of
>>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>>
>>>
>>Primitive
>>
>>
>>>Tribe
>>>Groups.
>>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>tribals
>>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>>order,
>>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>>
>>>
>>their
>>
>>
>>>ways of
>>>life and living.
>>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>Onges
>>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>>
>>>
>>Primitive
>>
>>
>>>Tribe
>>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>>first time
>>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>>
>>>
>>and
>>
>>
>>>a
>>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>>
>>>
>>are
>>
>>
>>>part of
>>>the PTG.
>>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>>
>>>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>gap
>>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>>economically,
>>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>>
>>>
>>such as
>>
>>
>>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>>constant
>>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>>violates
>>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>>
>>>
>>to
>>
>>
>>>know
>>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>>
>>>
>>realise
>>
>>
>>>their
>>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>>suggestions, we
>>>want solutions."
>>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>>
>>>
>>for
>>
>>
>>>the
>>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>>says, "we
>>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>>
>>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>>
>>>
>>Andaman
>>
>>
>>>and
>>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>>
>>>
>>will
>>
>>
>>>not
>>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>>restrictions."
>>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>>
>>>
>>has
>>
>>
>>>drafted
>>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>>
>>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>>
>>>
>>which
>>
>>
>>>has
>>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>>plan need
>>>to be shelved immediately.
>>>
>>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>>They have
>>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>>ameliorating
>>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>>feet-long
>>>pole."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Kalpavriksh
>>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>>Pune 411004
>>>India
>>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>>Fax: 5654239
>>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>>
>>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>>andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>>
>>
>>
>>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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>
>
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>
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>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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>
Dear Friends,
There were a string of regulations for various states called the Protection of
Aboriginal Tribes Regulation (or Act) that were created in 1956.
I have the entire set of notifications from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Does anyone on this group know more about these regulations, how they were
created, how they have been used etc. ?
And does anyone have copies of any fo these from any of the states in the
country?
pankaj
C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: pankajs@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
THe points made are general and not confined to A&N alone. It applies all
"indigenous" peoples.
Firstly national affiliations are more often than not matters of accidents -
historical,
geographical temporal or all the three. They are as much Indian as any one or
the other of us -
When we were born into the political entity we are bound to it.
As to imposing "civilisations" do we have a right not to try and make their life
better? Can we be
so selfish as to say we need not worry about these "independant" people merely
because they have
been so far isolated? If such an argument were to apply to A&N it could very
well apply to every
emancipation programme all over the world.
The point - as always - is to strike the right balance - to respect their
individuality without
denying them access to development. That they should be granted the right to
choose developmental
model within the overall political framework - just as every other community
ought to be whether it
it the tribals of Narmad valley or the citizens of Delhi- cannot be
controverted.
We should seek this balancing of conflicts. Conflicts are the sine qua non of
biological
existence. What we should guard against is that the jarawa and snetinelese do
not go the way of
several tribes that have vanished.
Brownie points do not matter
devi
----- Original Message -----
From: ANANT
To: andamanicobar@...
Sent: Wed, 05 Nov 2003 11:33:02 +0530
Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
tribalsinseven years
Regarding agenda setting for development, in the case of the ethnic people
of the Andamans, there is a distinct difference from the history of the
mainland.
Their anthropological isolation from us must make us cautious about imposing
our agenda on them. They have quite obviously been independent in every
sense of the term. Ideally, they should simply be left alone. The Orams of
our polity need not look for brownie points about having “civilized” anyone.
We have a huge population even otherwise, and if the plight of the wretched
among us is alleviated, they can feel satisfied with their performance.
There is also the question of geo-political identity. Do we have the right
to control a people merely because of political boundaries granted to us? In
what way are they “Indian,” for us to assume the role of controlling their
destiny? There is not even the question of informed consent here, because
they are not in a position to assess the alternative, in the face of or
corruptive influence.
G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai, India.
-----Original Message-----
From: Meena Menon [mailto:cats@...]
Sent: 04 November 2003 19:06
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
inseven years
Dear Rainer and others
I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and drove
through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The local
administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined them
as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years ago.
Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
what remains of these people.
I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took away
some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a great
idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the best
option?
meena
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
Dear Sugato,
you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
relevance to theirs.
A last point I would like to make.
In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
Any comments? I would be glad.
Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
14:09:38 -0000
>From: "disgusting_100"
>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
>Its a very interesting perspective.
>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>thinks it shouldnt happen
>
>Lots of value judgements happening here
>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
>Hmmmmm
>
>Sugato
>
>
>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
>wrote:
>
>
>>Dear Friends,
>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>
>>
>that
>
>
>>was
>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>access the
>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>
>>
>in
>
>
>>the
>>matter
>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>
>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>
>> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>
>>
>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>tribal of
>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Groups.
>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>tribals
>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>order,
>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>
>>
>their
>
>
>>ways of
>>life and living.
>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>Onges
>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>first time
>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>
>>
>and
>
>
>>a
>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>
>>
>are
>
>
>>part of
>>the PTG.
>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>gap
>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>economically,
>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>
>>
>such as
>
>
>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>constant
>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>violates
>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>
>>
>to
>
>
>>know
>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>
>>
>realise
>
>
>>their
>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>suggestions, we
>>want solutions."
>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>
>>
>for
>
>
>>the
>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>says, "we
>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>
>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>
>>
>Andaman
>
>
>>and
>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>
>>
>will
>
>
>>not
>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>restrictions."
>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>
>>
>has
>
>
>>drafted
>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>
>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>
>>
>which
>
>
>>has
>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>plan need
>>to be shelved immediately.
>>
>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>They have
>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>ameliorating
>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>feet-long
>>pole."
>>
>>
>>
>>Kalpavriksh
>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>Pune 411004
>>India
>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>Fax: 5654239
>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>
>>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dear Friend,
So true ...the real colonising starts like this and end with a burden
that we are carrying,
makes it difficult to recognise our real identity.As Indians these days we
are an extremely
corrupted people.......If,after the British had left and the brown sahebs
like Nehru hadnt
made rules of the game and we had been left alone to have our own
agricultural and ethnic
priorities we would at least have have had water leave aside self respect.
How can we make agendas for people we know nothing about!In doing so we
might just
hurt their sensibilities and ruin their culture.
I couldnt agree with you more.
Jayoo Patwardhan.
----- Original Message -----
From: ANANT <ganant@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 11:33 AM
Subject: RE: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
tribalsinseven years
Regarding agenda setting for development, in the case of the ethnic people
of the Andamans, there is a distinct difference from the history of the
mainland.
Their anthropological isolation from us must make us cautious about imposing
our agenda on them. They have quite obviously been independent in every
sense of the term. Ideally, they should simply be left alone. The Orams of
our polity need not look for brownie points about having "civilized" anyone.
We have a huge population even otherwise, and if the plight of the wretched
among us is alleviated, they can feel satisfied with their performance.
There is also the question of geo-political identity. Do we have the right
to control a people merely because of political boundaries granted to us? In
what way are they "Indian," for us to assume the role of controlling their
destiny? There is not even the question of informed consent here, because
they are not in a position to assess the alternative, in the face of or
corruptive influence.
G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai, India.
-----Original Message-----
From: Meena Menon [mailto:cats@...]
Sent: 04 November 2003 19:06
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
inseven years
Dear Rainer and others
I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and drove
through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The local
administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined them
as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years ago.
Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
what remains of these people.
I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took away
some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a great
idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the best
option?
meena
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
Dear Sugato,
you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
relevance to theirs.
A last point I would like to make.
In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
Any comments? I would be glad.
Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
14:09:38 -0000
>From: "disgusting_100"
>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
>Its a very interesting perspective.
>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>thinks it shouldnt happen
>
>Lots of value judgements happening here
>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
>Hmmmmm
>
>Sugato
>
>
>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
>wrote:
>
>
>>Dear Friends,
>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>
>>
>that
>
>
>>was
>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>access the
>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>
>>
>in
>
>
>>the
>>matter
>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>
>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>
>> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>
>>
>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>tribal of
>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Groups.
>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>tribals
>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>order,
>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>
>>
>their
>
>
>>ways of
>>life and living.
>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>Onges
>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>first time
>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>
>>
>and
>
>
>>a
>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>
>>
>are
>
>
>>part of
>>the PTG.
>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>gap
>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>economically,
>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>
>>
>such as
>
>
>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>constant
>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>violates
>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>
>>
>to
>
>
>>know
>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>
>>
>realise
>
>
>>their
>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>suggestions, we
>>want solutions."
>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>
>>
>for
>
>
>>the
>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>says, "we
>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>
>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>
>>
>Andaman
>
>
>>and
>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>
>>
>will
>
>
>>not
>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>restrictions."
>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>
>>
>has
>
>
>>drafted
>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>
>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>
>>
>which
>
>
>>has
>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>plan need
>>to be shelved immediately.
>>
>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>They have
>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>ameliorating
>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>feet-long
>>pole."
>>
>>
>>
>>Kalpavriksh
>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>Pune 411004
>>India
>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>Fax: 5654239
>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>
>>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Hi Sugato,
there have been detailed and interesting responses to your thought provoking
questions but after reading your questions one question comes to my mind.
Why should they not decide for themselves what they need? I feel that in
most of our minds there is a very strong divide between "them" and "us".
Somehow in most articulations "us" seem to know the best and "them" because
they live in the forest know not what is good for them.
In my opinion the best that our society can do is stop colonising on the
territories of those who have not yet decided to go the way we have. That is
what closing of the GTR does, gives them time to decide what they want to
do. By constantly forcing them to interact with us and imposing ourselves on
them we are putting a pressure and introducing an external velocity of
change. Least we can do is trust them that they can take a decision for
themselves and let them have the space and time to do so.
Neema Pathak
----- Original Message -----
From: Meena Menon <cats@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
inseven years
> Dear Rainer and others
> I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and
drove
> through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The
local
> administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
> Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
> infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
> understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
> the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
> in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
> witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined
them
> as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
> decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
> some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years
ago.
> Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
> what remains of these people.
> I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
> liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
> tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took
away
> some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
> I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a
great
> idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
> Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
> has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the
best
> option?
> meena
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
> To: <andamanicobar@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
> in seven years
>
>
> Dear Sugato,
>
> you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
> Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
> different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
> very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
> those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
> what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
> habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
> Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
>
> The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
> with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
> villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
> able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
> about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
> visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
> Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
> judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
> like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
> their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
> made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
> times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
>
> Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
> what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
> encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
> dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
> not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
> relevance to theirs.
>
> A last point I would like to make.
>
> In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
> and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
> I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
> and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
> the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
> tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
> opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
> the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
> most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
> direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
> matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
>
> Any comments? I would be glad.
>
> Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
>
>
>
> Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>
> >disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
> 14:09:38 -0000
> >From: "disgusting_100"
> >To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> >Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
> >
> >Its a very interesting perspective.
> >A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> >thinks it shouldnt happen
> >
> >Lots of value judgements happening here
> >Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> >for millenia when the world around them is changing
> >
> >And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> >(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> >Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
> >
> >Hmmmmm
> >
> >Sugato
> >
> >
> >--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
> >
> >wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Dear Friends,
> >>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> >>
> >>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> >>
> >>
> >that
> >
> >
> >>was
> >>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> >>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> >>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> >>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> >>access the
> >>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> >>
> >>
> >in
> >
> >
> >>the
> >>matter
> >>Pankaj Sekhsaria
> >>(Kalpavriksh)
> >>
> >>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> >>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> >>
> >>http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> >>
> >>
> >>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> >>tribal of
> >>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> >>
> >>
> >Primitive
> >
> >
> >>Tribe
> >>Groups.
> >>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> >>
> >>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>tribals
> >>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> >>order,
> >>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> >>
> >>
> >their
> >
> >
> >>ways of
> >>life and living.
> >>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> >>
> >>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>Onges
> >>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> >>
> >>
> >Primitive
> >
> >
> >>Tribe
> >>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> >>first time
> >>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> >>
> >>
> >and
> >
> >
> >>a
> >>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> >>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> >>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> >>
> >>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> >>
> >>
> >are
> >
> >
> >>part of
> >>the PTG.
> >>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> >>
> >>
> >the
> >
> >
> >>gap
> >>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> >>economically,
> >>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> >>
> >>
> >such as
> >
> >
> >>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> >>constant
> >>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> >>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> >>violates
> >>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> >>
> >>
> >to
> >
> >
> >>know
> >>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> >>
> >>
> >realise
> >
> >
> >>their
> >>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> >>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> >>suggestions, we
> >>want solutions."
> >>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> >>
> >>
> >for
> >
> >
> >>the
> >>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> >>says, "we
> >>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> >>
> >>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> >>
> >>
> >Andaman
> >
> >
> >>and
> >>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> >>
> >>
> >will
> >
> >
> >>not
> >>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> >>restrictions."
> >>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> >>
> >>
> >has
> >
> >
> >>drafted
> >>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> >>
> >>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> >>
> >>
> >which
> >
> >
> >>has
> >>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> >>plan need
> >>to be shelved immediately.
> >>
> >>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> >>They have
> >>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> >>ameliorating
> >>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
> >>feet-long
> >>pole."
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Kalpavriksh
> >>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> >>908 Deccan Gymkhana
> >>Pune 411004
> >>India
> >>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> >>Fax: 5654239
> >>Email: kvriksh@v...
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
> >
> >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
> >
> >
> >
> >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Regarding agenda setting for development, in the case of the ethnic people
of the Andamans, there is a distinct difference from the history of the
mainland.
Their anthropological isolation from us must make us cautious about imposing
our agenda on them. They have quite obviously been independent in every
sense of the term. Ideally, they should simply be left alone. The Orams of
our polity need not look for brownie points about having “civilized” anyone.
We have a huge population even otherwise, and if the plight of the wretched
among us is alleviated, they can feel satisfied with their performance.
There is also the question of geo-political identity. Do we have the right
to control a people merely because of political boundaries granted to us? In
what way are they “Indian,” for us to assume the role of controlling their
destiny? There is not even the question of informed consent here, because
they are not in a position to assess the alternative, in the face of or
corruptive influence.
G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai, India.
-----Original Message-----
From: Meena Menon [mailto:cats@...]
Sent: 04 November 2003 19:06
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
inseven years
Dear Rainer and others
I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and drove
through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The local
administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined them
as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years ago.
Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
what remains of these people.
I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took away
some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a great
idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the best
option?
meena
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
Dear Sugato,
you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
relevance to theirs.
A last point I would like to make.
In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
Any comments? I would be glad.
Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
14:09:38 -0000
>From: "disgusting_100"
>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
>Its a very interesting perspective.
>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>thinks it shouldnt happen
>
>Lots of value judgements happening here
>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
>Hmmmmm
>
>Sugato
>
>
>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
>wrote:
>
>
>>Dear Friends,
>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>
>>
>that
>
>
>>was
>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>access the
>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>
>>
>in
>
>
>>the
>>matter
>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>
>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>
>> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>
>>
>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>tribal of
>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Groups.
>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>tribals
>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>order,
>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>
>>
>their
>
>
>>ways of
>>life and living.
>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>Onges
>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>first time
>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>
>>
>and
>
>
>>a
>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>
>>
>are
>
>
>>part of
>>the PTG.
>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>gap
>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>economically,
>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>
>>
>such as
>
>
>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>constant
>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>violates
>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>
>>
>to
>
>
>>know
>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>
>>
>realise
>
>
>>their
>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>suggestions, we
>>want solutions."
>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>
>>
>for
>
>
>>the
>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>says, "we
>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>
>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>
>>
>Andaman
>
>
>>and
>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>
>>
>will
>
>
>>not
>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>restrictions."
>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>
>>
>has
>
>
>>drafted
>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>
>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>
>>
>which
>
>
>>has
>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>plan need
>>to be shelved immediately.
>>
>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>They have
>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>ameliorating
>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>feet-long
>>pole."
>>
>>
>>
>>Kalpavriksh
>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>Pune 411004
>>India
>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>Fax: 5654239
>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>
>>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
http://www.blonnet.com/life/2003/06/23/stories/2003062300040200.htm
The Hindu Business Line
June 23, 2003
THE ORIGIN PUZZLE
M. Somasekhar
Breakthrough technology and findings by the Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology (CCMB) and several other organisations help to put
together pieces of the human gene puzzle.
In the beginning, man depended largely on historical accounts or the word of
mouth to understand his ancestry, especially on `how' and `when' his journey
on planet Earth began. Then came social anthropologists, who dug into the
sand, scooped remains of humans and animals and reconstructed pieces of
history to find continuity in human evolution. They were aided by scientific
tools like carbon dating to establish the long chain of events.
Thus, relentless searches by anthropologists in different locations in the
world, supplemented by finds by Archaeologists of human settlements, led to
the unearthing of strong evidence in the form of human remains in the
African continent during the early part of the last century. Thereafter,
Africa, the `dark continent,' has been accepted as the `cradle' of modern
civilisation.
Now, Molecular Biologists have joined the race to see whether they can
confirm this story of the homosapien so far or push his history further
back. Since the discovery of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) structure 50
years ago, it is becoming more and more clear that the `gene,' a very tiny
portion of the homosapien holds many secrets.
By unravelling the hidden data in these genes, scientists believe they can
establish the lineage, historical time as well as susceptibility to diseases
that the modern surviving homosapien shares or differs with the ancestors.
In this pursuit, scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
(CCMB), Hyderabad have made some exciting contributions.
The focus of their studies is centred around the Andaman and Nicobar
islands, where the inhabitants antecedents remain a big puzzle. The cluster
of 319 islands with an area of 8,293 sq km harbour a group of people who
have virtually locked themselves away from the modern world for centuries.
Since they were unaffected by modern developments and people outside, the
presumption was that their genetic make-up did not undergo much change and
hence offered the best window to the past history of mankind.
Ironically, what the British thought was a fit place (Open air Jail) to
banish Indian leaders fighting for freedom from their rule, has the
potential of being turned into a `Genome laboratory', which can help throw
light on not just the mysterious peoples inhabiting these Islands, but also
the exciting tales about where they came from, why they are or not
susceptible to diseases and their links (genetic) to the rest of the
populations elsewhere.
Fittingly, the pioneering study led by the CCMB also hinged again ironically
on the contributions of a Britisher - A. Radcliff-Brown, who during 1906-08
collected hair samples from the tribals on the islands (especially great
andamanese), which are now housed at the Duckworth Collection, University of
Cambridge, UK. These samples called archival hair DNA were analysed at the
Cambridge University, which was part of the global effort.
The most difficult part of the study was to get the DNA samples from the
four major tribes - Onges, Great Andamanese, Nicobarese and Jarawas. The
CCMB tied up with the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Port Blair to
collect blood samples. The Departments of Genetics at Stanford University
and Biology at the University of Oslo, Norway were also part of the Global
study team along with the Anthropological Survey of India, according to Dr
Lalji Singh, the Director of the CCMB.
The analysis of the DNA samples collected painstakingly threw up several
exciting leads. The first significant one being that the four groups of
people surviving at present on the Andaman and Nicobar islands shared a
closer resemblance to the Asian peoples than the Africans. This finding has
popped up a totally different set of questions as to how they reached
Andaman and whether there are any tribes on the Indian mainland, which
resemble them, explain Dr Lalji Singh and Dr Thangaraj of the CCMB.
A popular conjecture however is that they could have descended from a group
of people who migrated out of Africa about 60,000 years ago and were perhaps
washed ashore onto the islands by accident. The much referred to `Out of
Africa' theory of the spread of human civilisation, places the time of the
migration out of the `dark continent,' between 60,000-100,000 years ago.
The genetic data, which the researchers studied, included both the DNA from
mitochondria (which is passed on from the mother) as well as the DNA from
the Y Chromosome (inherited from the father).
Faced with these two different pointers, the CCMB team undertook DNA studies
on select tribals of the West Coast of India - Gujarat and Kerala. And to
their surprise, they found some with close affinities to the Andamanese
Negrito tribes. Negritos are an isolated group of small statured
hunter-gatherers, who share features with the African pygmies. More
importantly, these mainland tribes appear to be older than the Andamanese,
says Dr Singh.
The new twist to the entire drama has spurred the CCMB team to undertake the
DNA analysis of all the primitive tribes of India. For this, it has forged a
collaboration with the ASI. The CCMB has also embarked on the ambitious
project of creating a comprehensive gene bank of not just the endangered
tribes on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but also those residing on the
mainland India, so that a number of scientific studies can be taken up in
future.
The gene bank assumes significance for posterity because the numbers of
these tribes are less than four digits at present. The Onges, one of the
most primitive, hunter-gatherer tribes and fittest to survive in this
environment number just 98 as per the last count. The Sentinelese, who are
still virtually cut of from the rest of the world are estimated to number
250. The Great Andamanese are close to extinction with a total population of
36.
India is best suited to unravel the mysteries of the human evolution drama,
not just because of the fact that every sixth person on the planet lives
here today, but in India, there are 4,365 anthropologically well defined
populations, 532 are tribals and 72 primitive, and 36 are hunter gatherers,
says Dr Singh. Any conclusion on the origin of mankind has to necessarily
take into consideration India, he adds.
The study has not just thrown fresh light on the history, but has also
pointed at new opportunities in medicine. For example, the understanding of
the genetic make-up of these tribals can give an idea as to why they are
susceptible to some diseases and immune to others. If the susceptible genes
are identified, then their relationship to environmental risk factors can be
studied. This will give invaluable insights into disease patterns. For
example, some tribes in the Andamans are totally immune to malaria, while
the disease is rampant in India. By understanding this phenomenon, new
treatment methods could be possible, Dr Singh explains.
With modern medicine inclining strongly into probing the genetic links to
disease, especially the difficulty to cure one's, such studies are hoped to
be very useful. The unveiling of the human genome map a few years ago has
accelerated the understanding of genes and their role in the human body.
C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: pankajs@...
Dear Rainer and others
I visited the Andamans islands as a tourist a couple of years ago and drove
through the ATR- a road that caused the deaths of so many Jarawa. The local
administration has actually put up signs along this road saying beware of
Jarawa as if they are some dangerous creatures. While the government has
infested the beautiful islands with other settlers, there is no attempt to
understand the indigenous tribes. In fact the local people are hostile to
the Jarawa and often beat them up. The Jarawa dressed flamboyantly dressed
in red, often stop the cars and beg for food. It was a horrific sight to
witness. I think we have taken away their beautiful islands and ruined them
as a people. In fact contact with our so called wonderful civilisation has
decimated these people- there was a huge measles epidemic among them after
some "wellintentioned" government efforts to give them food some years ago.
Oram is only furthering this stupid process and will probably finish off
what remains of these people.
I saw at that time that some people were interacting with the Jarawa and
liasing with them. They have become bizarre tourist attractions - and know
tourists can give them food- in fact they stopped our vehicle and took away
some things- this is the result of their contact with our great world.
I really dont know what can be done?am not even sure tourism is such a great
idea having been there once and seen the damage we tourists can cause. The
Jarawa seem so remote from all this- how can we help them? CAn someone who
has studied them give any constructive ideas? Is leaving them alone the best
option?
meena
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rainer Hoerig" <rainer@...>
To: <andamanicobar@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
Dear Sugato,
you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
relevance to theirs.
A last point I would like to make.
In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
Any comments? I would be glad.
Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
14:09:38 -0000
>From: "disgusting_100"
>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
>Its a very interesting perspective.
>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>thinks it shouldnt happen
>
>Lots of value judgements happening here
>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
>Hmmmmm
>
>Sugato
>
>
>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
>wrote:
>
>
>>Dear Friends,
>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>
>>
>that
>
>
>>was
>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>access the
>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>
>>
>in
>
>
>>the
>>matter
>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>
>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>
>>http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>
>>
>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>tribal of
>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Groups.
>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>tribals
>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>order,
>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>
>>
>their
>
>
>>ways of
>>life and living.
>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>Onges
>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>first time
>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>
>>
>and
>
>
>>a
>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>
>>
>are
>
>
>>part of
>>the PTG.
>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>gap
>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>economically,
>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>
>>
>such as
>
>
>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>constant
>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>violates
>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>
>>
>to
>
>
>>know
>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>
>>
>realise
>
>
>>their
>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>suggestions, we
>>want solutions."
>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>
>>
>for
>
>
>>the
>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>says, "we
>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>
>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>
>>
>Andaman
>
>
>>and
>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>
>>
>will
>
>
>>not
>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>restrictions."
>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>
>>
>has
>
>
>>drafted
>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>
>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>
>>
>which
>
>
>>has
>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>plan need
>>to be shelved immediately.
>>
>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>They have
>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>ameliorating
>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>feet-long
>>pole."
>>
>>
>>
>>Kalpavriksh
>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>Pune 411004
>>India
>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>Fax: 5654239
>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>
>>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Dear Sugato,
you have raised a point that is indeed relevant in the situation of the
Andaman tribes people. The world they are living in is indeed so
different from the one we "civilized" have created around us that it is
very difficult to imagine a meaningful communication happening between
those two worlds. For instance, if you would meet a Jarawa on M.G. Road,
what would you like to tell him? Even if you meet within their own
habitat, the forest, what will you talk about - the weather, latest
Bollywood movie, the war in Irak?
The Andaman tribes people are different in the way that their contact
with modern way of life is nearly nothing. You may visit Adivasi
villages in Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand for instance and you will be
able to talk to these people in Hindi at least and you can ask them
about their problems and how they imagine them to be solved. After a
visit to the Islands about two years ago I can tell you: Encountering a
Jarawa you are lost of speech, you do not know their habits, you cannot
judge their reactions. How then can you try to find out whether they
like the settlers or not, whether they would like to have a road through
their forest home or not? Well, in case of the road at least, they have
made their stand very clear by raiding the construction camps many
times. But in many other issues, it is not that easy.
Mr. Oram is a catastrophe. He is an Indian Uncle Tom. How can he decide
what is best for the tribes people in the Andamans whom he has never
encountered? We should enshure that nothing is been forced on the jungle
dwellers, that they can exercise their free will towards development or
not. Development again is a construct of our world with hardly any
relevance to theirs.
A last point I would like to make.
In the discussion about tourism it is good to first stick in your pole
and express your doubts about the harmfull effect on the tribes people.
I presume that if the administration would simultanously close the road
and effectively take care that no intrusion by settlers can happen into
the tribes territories, then I can see not reason why the visit of
tourists on other islands may harm the Jarawas. Instead of fundamentally
opposing the tourism plan, why not try to strike a bargain by putting
the closure of the ATR as a precondition? Anyway, after the closure of
most forest operation the island's economy needs some push, some new
direction. I think that tourism, if done in an ecological friendly
matter, is not the worst option for the A & N islands.
Any comments? I would be glad.
Rainer Hoerig, correspondent for German media in Pune
Pankaj Sekhsaria schrieb:
>disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
14:09:38 -0000
>From: "disgusting_100"
>To: andamanicobar-owner@...
>Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
>Its a very interesting perspective.
>A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
>thinks it shouldnt happen
>
>Lots of value judgements happening here
>Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
>for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
>And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
>(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
>Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
>Hmmmmm
>
>Sugato
>
>
>--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
>wrote:
>
>
>>Dear Friends,
>>Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
>>
>>
>that
>
>
>>was
>>posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
>>mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
>>A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
>>The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
>>access the
>>other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
>>
>>
>in
>
>
>>the
>>matter
>>Pankaj Sekhsaria
>>(Kalpavriksh)
>>
>>Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
>>Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>>
>>http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>>
>>
>>If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
>>tribal of
>>the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Groups.
>>Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>tribals
>>and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
>>order,
>>stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
>>
>>
>their
>
>
>>ways of
>>life and living.
>>Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>Onges
>>and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
>>
>>
>Primitive
>
>
>>Tribe
>>Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
>>first time
>>the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
>>
>>
>and
>
>
>>a
>>Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
>>The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
>>ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
>>
>>
>are
>
>
>>part of
>>the PTG.
>>The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>gap
>>between the plans and their implementation at every level -
>>economically,
>>culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
>>
>>
>such as
>
>
>>Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
>>constant
>>touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
>>The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
>>violates
>>court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
>>
>>
>to
>
>
>>know
>>about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
>>
>>
>realise
>
>
>>their
>>surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
>>.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
>>suggestions, we
>>want solutions."
>>On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
>>
>>
>for
>
>
>>the
>>local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
>>says, "we
>>have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>>
>>Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
>>
>>
>Andaman
>
>
>>and
>>Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
>>
>>
>will
>
>
>>not
>>disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
>>restrictions."
>>Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
>>
>>
>has
>
>
>>drafted
>>the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>>
>>Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
>>
>>
>which
>
>
>>has
>>been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
>>plan need
>>to be shelved immediately.
>>
>>"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
>>They have
>>almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
>>ameliorating
>>their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
>>feet-long
>>pole."
>>
>>
>>
>>Kalpavriksh
>>Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
>>908 Deccan Gymkhana
>>Pune 411004
>>India
>>Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
>>Fax: 5654239
>>Email: kvriksh@v...
>>
>>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dear colleagues,
It seems to me that the situation presents some parallel with the
“un-contacted” tribes of the Amazons, for whom unique arrangements are
being supported by the Brazilian government and various NGOS and
concerned individuals.
After more than half of the people contacted in recent decades died
because of diseases new to them, the policy seems to be one of “let them
live on their own”. The concerned people also appear keen to avoid
contact.
In the world of conservation some people consider the territories of
these tribes as a “category 1” protected area—to be left entirely alone,
managed by its own inhabitants.
Has anyone concerned with the Andamans and Nicobars studied the
Brazilian experience?
Best,
grazia
-----Original Message-----
From: Pankaj Sekhsaria [mailto:pankajs@...]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 9:42 AM
To: andamanicobar@...
Subject: [andamanicobar] mainstreaming for what?
Dear Friends and Sugato in particular,
Just for clarification, here it is not that the Minister wants 'his'
ethnic group to mainstream. Jual Oram is certainly from a tribal
community himself, but just because he is that does not necessarily mean
that he, by default represents the tribal communities in the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
The question of representation is certainly a very crucial one, and
neither can any NGO claim to do that.
Another fundamental point that we should understand about these
communities in the Andamans is that there is virtually no parallel to
them in today's India, in the context of their societies, their ways of
life and the forest homes that they live in. Comparisons with the
situation of other tribal communities on mainland India, though
certainly valid, is very very limited and incomplete.
Further on the issue of representation, the question that also needs to
be asked is how can these people be really represented, if at all? Is
there really space for a community of 250 individuals in the case of the
Jarawa, or 100 in the case of the Onge to be honestly and fairly
representated in this political system that is based on majority. This
is not just in the realm of rhetoric. Political parties in the islands
have clearly articulated that the first preference will have to be given
to the settlers from mainland India, who are now in substantial majority
in the islands. The total population the Andaman indigenous peoples
today is 500 individuals over four distinct communities - the total
population of the outside settlers here is some where around 350,000 and
could be even more....
There is also enough evidence from indigenous communities around the
world and in the Andamans itself, that mainstreaming as we understand
it, has meant annhilation of these peoples. In 1850 the population of
the Great Andamanese was somewhere in the range of 5000 people. The
British tried to 'civilise' and 'mainstream' them and today they are
only about 40 individuals. This is the pretty much the road that the
Onge and the Jarawa have been set on...
thanks
Pankaj Sekhsaria
C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: pankajs@...
----- Original Message -----
From: radhakamath@...
To: andamanicobar@...
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N
tribals inseven years
This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the supreme court/NHRC on
this.
Radha
----- Original Message -----
From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
in seven years
>
>
> disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> From: "disgusting_100"
> To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
> Its a very interesting perspective.
> A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> thinks it shouldnt happen
>
> Lots of value judgements happening here
> Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
> And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
> Hmmmmm
>
> Sugato
>
>
> --- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> the
> > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> that
> > was
> > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> > A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been
conceived.
> > The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> > access the
> > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> in
> > the
> > matter
> > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > (Kalpavriksh)
> >
> > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> >
> > http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> >
> >
> > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> > tribal of
> > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Groups.
> > Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> the
> > tribals
> > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> > order,
> > stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> their
> > ways of
> > life and living.
> > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> the
> > Onges
> > and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> > first time
> > the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> and
> > a
> > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for
the
> > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> the
> > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> are
> > part of
> > the PTG.
> > The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> the
> > gap
> > between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> > economically,
> > culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> such as
> > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> > constant
> > touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> > The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> > violates
> > court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> to
> > know
> > about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> realise
> > their
> > surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> > .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> > suggestions, we
> > want solutions."
> > On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> for
> > the
> > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> > says, "we
> > have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> >
> > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> Andaman
> > and
> > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> will
> > not
> > disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will
have
> > restrictions."
> > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> has
> > drafted
> > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> >
> > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> which
> > has
> > been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> > plan need
> > to be shelved immediately.
> >
> > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> > They have
> > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> > ameliorating
> > their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a
> 20-
> > feet-long
> > pole."
> >
> >
> >
> > Kalpavriksh
> > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411004
> > India
> > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > Fax: 5654239
> > Email: kvriksh@v...
>
>
>
> Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dear Friends and Sugato in particular,
Just for clarification, here it is not that the Minister wants 'his' ethnic
group to mainstream. Jual Oram is certainly from a tribal community himself, but
just because he is that does not necessarily mean that he, by default represents
the tribal communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The question of representation is certainly a very crucial one, and neither can
any NGO claim to do that.
Another fundamental point that we should understand about these communities in
the Andamans is that there is virtually no parallel to them in today's India, in
the context of their societies, their ways of life and the forest homes that
they live in. Comparisons with the situation of other tribal communities on
mainland India, though certainly valid, is very very limited and incomplete.
Further on the issue of representation, the question that also needs to be asked
is how can these people be really represented, if at all? Is there really space
for a community of 250 individuals in the case of the Jarawa, or 100 in the case
of the Onge to be honestly and fairly representated in this political system
that is based on majority. This is not just in the realm of rhetoric. Political
parties in the islands have clearly articulated that the first preference will
have to be given to the settlers from mainland India, who are now in substantial
majority in the islands. The total population the Andaman indigenous peoples
today is 500 individuals over four distinct communities - the total population
of the outside settlers here is some where around 350,000 and could be even
more....
There is also enough evidence from indigenous communities around the world and
in the Andamans itself, that mainstreaming as we understand it, has meant
annhilation of these peoples. In 1850 the population of the Great Andamanese was
somewhere in the range of 5000 people. The British tried to 'civilise' and
'mainstream' them and today they are only about 40 individuals. This is the
pretty much the road that the Onge and the Jarawa have been set on...
thanks
Pankaj Sekhsaria
C/o Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: pankajs@...
----- Original Message -----
From: radhakamath@...
To: andamanicobar@...
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals
inseven years
This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the supreme court/NHRC on this.
Radha
----- Original Message -----
From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in
seven years
>
>
> disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> From: "disgusting_100"
> To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
> Its a very interesting perspective.
> A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> thinks it shouldnt happen
>
> Lots of value judgements happening here
> Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
> And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
> Hmmmmm
>
> Sugato
>
>
> --- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> the
> > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> that
> > was
> > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> > A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> > The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> > access the
> > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> in
> > the
> > matter
> > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > (Kalpavriksh)
> >
> > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> >
> > http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> >
> >
> > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> > tribal of
> > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Groups.
> > Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> the
> > tribals
> > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> > order,
> > stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> their
> > ways of
> > life and living.
> > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> the
> > Onges
> > and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> > first time
> > the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> and
> > a
> > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> the
> > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> are
> > part of
> > the PTG.
> > The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> the
> > gap
> > between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> > economically,
> > culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> such as
> > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> > constant
> > touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> > The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> > violates
> > court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> to
> > know
> > about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> realise
> > their
> > surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> > .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> > suggestions, we
> > want solutions."
> > On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> for
> > the
> > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> > says, "we
> > have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> >
> > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> Andaman
> > and
> > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> will
> > not
> > disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> > restrictions."
> > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> has
> > drafted
> > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> >
> > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> which
> > has
> > been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> > plan need
> > to be shelved immediately.
> >
> > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> > They have
> > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> > ameliorating
> > their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a
> 20-
> > feet-long
> > pole."
> >
> >
> >
> > Kalpavriksh
> > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411004
> > India
> > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > Fax: 5654239
> > Email: kvriksh@v...
>
>
>
> Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hi!
I don't think the issue is simply over whether or not the tribal groups want
development or our version of it - after all how much of it have they been
exposed to, that they can make a rational,, informed choice? Are the
Jarawas, for example, aware of what has happened to the other tribes that
the authorities in their infinite wisdom decided to "civilise" or "develop".
If the price of teaching them to count up to ten and handing out a few food
parcels is decimating their entire community and their way of life, is it
really worth it or necessary?
And comparing the tribals of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the ones
within the subcontinent is not very valid as the level of interaction with
outsiders, immunity to diseases and cultural affinity and ability to adapt
effectively is completely different.
Rgds,
Priya
_________________________________________________________________
Want to check if your PC is virus-infected? Get a FREE computer virus scan
online from McAfee.
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
This is worse case scenario. Can we approach the supreme court/NHRC on this.
Radha
----- Original Message -----
From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <pankajandaman@...>
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2003 4:10 pm
Subject: [andamanicobar] Fwd: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven
years
>
>
> disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01
> Nov 2003 14:09:38 -0000
> From: "disgusting_100"
> To: andamanicobar-owner@...
> Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
>
> Its a very interesting perspective.
> A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
> thinks it shouldnt happen
>
> Lots of value judgements happening here
> Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
> for millenia when the world around them is changing
>
> And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
> (I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
> Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
>
> Hmmmmm
>
> Sugato
>
>
> --- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
>
> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> > Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
> the
> > situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
> that
> > was
> > posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> > mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> > A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> > The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> > access the
> > other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
> in
> > the
> > matter
> > Pankaj Sekhsaria
> > (Kalpavriksh)
> >
> > Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> > Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
> >
> > http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
> >
> >
> > If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> > tribal of
> > the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Groups.
> > Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
> the
> > tribals
> > and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> > order,
> > stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
> their
> > ways of
> > life and living.
> > Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
> the
> > Onges
> > and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
> Primitive
> > Tribe
> > Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> > first time
> > the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
> and
> > a
> > Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> > The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> > ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
> the
> > category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
> are
> > part of
> > the PTG.
> > The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
> the
> > gap
> > between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> > economically,
> > culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
> such as
> > Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> > constant
> > touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> > The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> > violates
> > court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
> to
> > know
> > about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
> realise
> > their
> > surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> > .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> > suggestions, we
> > want solutions."
> > On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
> for
> > the
> > local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> > says, "we
> > have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
> >
> > Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
> Andaman
> > and
> > Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
> will
> > not
> > disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> > restrictions."
> > Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
> has
> > drafted
> > the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
> >
> > Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
> which
> > has
> > been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> > plan need
> > to be shelved immediately.
> >
> > "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> > They have
> > almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> > ameliorating
> > their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a
> 20-
> > feet-long
> > pole."
> >
> >
> >
> > Kalpavriksh
> > Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> > 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> > Pune 411004
> > India
> > Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> > Fax: 5654239
> > Email: kvriksh@v...
>
>
>
> Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> andamanicobar-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://in.docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
Dear friends,
The question is not of denying tribals electricity or fruits of development but
the manner in which
they are sought to be 'civilised'. Even George Bush is convinced about his
'civilising mission' for
Iraq. There is ample empirical proof world over of botched attempts at
'mainstreaming primitive
cultures' - attempts that have only brought grief to those it was meant to do
'good' for. We need
to caution ourselves and reflect historically on what the minister and his govt.
is attempting to
do.
The point I am raising here is peculiar to the present political dispensation
that Oram represents
and supports. It is the question of ethinic (tribal) identity and I am a bit
wary on this count as
it has brought tragic consequences. I think it is central to this debate here.
It is ironical that this idea of 'civilising & mainstreaming' comes from a
minister who has tribal
origins himself. But this is not surprising given that the most vociferous
support for a 'cultural
nationalism' comes from a section of the tribal communities themselves - the
latest recruits of the
Hindutva Brigade. We have seen this in the Gujarat carnage and in the recent VHP
Ayodhya fiasco.
The minister is taking help from 'NGOs' like the Ramakrishna Mission in his
civilising missionary
task. With due respect to the founders of these reformist movements (not NGOs!),
I fear that even
these organisations have been overtaken by a monolithic view of the Indian and
Hindu identity that
shares the view of a militant Hindu Nationalistic State of those in politics. I
have seen this
'missionary zeal' amongst NGOs too, working with tribals in the western ghats
also.
Here is a link of an article I found interesting in this context of 'indentity
crisis'. It is
central to a lot of us middle class Indians who are right now living in denial
while the post
liberalisation conspicuous consumption party lasts:
http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~critmass/v5n2/arora3.html
" How does the concept of transcendence function historically in colonial India
for Ramakrishna?
The Mission in Calcutta under the tutelage of Ramakrishna stayed clear of
nationalist politics in
its construction of a modern, universal, religious selfhood. And yet, as Partha
Chatterjee argues
in the essay "A Religion of Urban Domesticity: Sri Ramakrishna and the Calcutta
Middle Class," the
nationalist agenda and the cultural work of the Ramakrishna Mission have to be
seen in relation to
each other. Partha Chatterjee has written on the central role that religion
played in the
nineteenth-century Bengali middle class's construction of its role as the agents
of moral
leadership. The Ramakrishna Movement in Bengal is the entry point into this
discussion for
Chatterjee, as he says, because it is from here that the discursive domain of
'middleness' can be
discussed and problematized. "Middleness" is used to connote the experience of a
simultaneous
subordination and domination (in which the Bengali middle class found itself)
from which hegemonic
ruling ideologies emerged. Thus, a cultural leadership of the indigenous
colonized people was
constituted in a relation of subordination to the British colonial elite, which
was also in
contestation to that subordination. Chatterjee suggests that the middle class
found itself in the
middle of a sense of intellectual confusion and spiritual crisis in which
neither the traditional
prescriptions of ritual practice nor the unconcretized principles of enlightened
rationality could
provide adequate grounds in regulating one's daily life situation which, after
all, was
unprecedented in 'tradition.' It becomes evident that the cultural work of the
Mission was useful
for the nationalist agenda for its simplistic reconciliation of the traditional
within the Modern
in positing Hinduism as a philosophy which could incorporate and manage all
differences."
I see this identity and nationalism issue as central to how our state and
constitution treats
indeginous people like the Onges and Jarawas. The devil is within us.
Regards,
Rustam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
disgusting_100 <disgusting_100@...> wrote:Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003
14:09:38 -0000
From: "disgusting_100"
To: andamanicobar-owner@...
Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
Its a very interesting perspective.
A political leader wants his ethnic group to mainstream and an NGO
thinks it shouldnt happen
Lots of value judgements happening here
Fundamentally - why should an ethnic group remain in the way it had
for millenia when the world around them is changing
And who decides to exclude them from the "benefits" of "development"
(I guess I also mean who defines "benefits" and "development")
Who indeed decides the tribal "cause"?
Hmmmmm
Sugato
--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
wrote:
>
> Dear Friends,
> Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
the
> situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
that
> was
> posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> access the
> other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
in
> the
> matter
> Pankaj Sekhsaria
> (Kalpavriksh)
>
> Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>
> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>
>
> If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> tribal of
> the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
Primitive
> Tribe
> Groups.
> Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
the
> tribals
> and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> order,
> stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or
their
> ways of
> life and living.
> Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
the
> Onges
> and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
Primitive
> Tribe
> Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> first time
> the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
and
> a
> Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
the
> category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India
are
> part of
> the PTG.
> The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
the
> gap
> between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> economically,
> culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs
such as
> Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> constant
> touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> violates
> court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want
to
> know
> about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
realise
> their
> surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> suggestions, we
> want solutions."
> On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
for
> the
> local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> says, "we
> have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>
> Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for
Andaman
> and
> Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
will
> not
> disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> restrictions."
> Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which
has
> drafted
> the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>
> Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
which
> has
> been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> plan need
> to be shelved immediately.
>
> "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> They have
> almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> ameliorating
> their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
> feet-long
> pole."
>
>
>
> Kalpavriksh
> Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> Pune 411004
> India
> Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> Fax: 5654239
> Email: kvriksh@v...
Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ranjanenv <ranjvaid@...> wrote: Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2003 18:54:17
-0000
From: "ranjanenv"
To: andamanicobar-owner@...
Subject: Re: Oram wants to mainstream A&N tribals in seven years
i wonder if there are now clandestine interests involved.....i still
some how feel that the tribals (if they at all want) have the right
to have alteast some basic amenities such as
electricity....etc....and even an iota of that is considered as
tabooo....in the intellectual development circle....if we extend this
logic then even visiting a tribal area...and interacting with them
would have a repurcussion on tribals .....do we leave some of the
tribals ....(after our visits).....even more dejected for their own
culture and traditions and life styles.after our visits....(even
thoough we may not want it all)....
there has to be a way out....i have interacted with some tribals in
MP and have also found that even they somewhere want to be a part of
mainstream....why they should not want...i fail to understand????
let every one live...
--- In andamanicobar@..., "pankajandaman"
wrote:
>
> Dear Friends,
> Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on
the
> situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article
that
> was
> posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
> mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
> A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
> The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
> access the
> other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion
in
> the
> matter
> Pankaj Sekhsaria
> (Kalpavriksh)
>
> Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
> Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
>
> http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
>
>
> If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
> tribal of
> the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the
Primitive
> Tribe
> Groups.
> Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform
the
> tribals
> and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
> order,
> stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or their
> ways of
> life and living.
> Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens,
the
> Onges
> and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the
Primitive
> Tribe
> Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
> first time
> the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs
and
> a
> Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
> The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
> ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take
the
> category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India are
> part of
> the PTG.
> The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of
the
> gap
> between the plans and their implementation at every level -
> economically,
> culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs such
as
> Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
> constant
> touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
> The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
> violates
> court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want to
> know
> about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should
realise
> their
> surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
> .we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
> suggestions, we
> want solutions."
> On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines
for
> the
> local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
> says, "we
> have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
>
> Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for Andaman
> and
> Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It
will
> not
> disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
> restrictions."
> Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which has
> drafted
> the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
>
> Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE),
which
> has
> been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
> plan need
> to be shelved immediately.
>
> "It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
> They have
> almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
> ameliorating
> their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
> feet-long
> pole."
>
>
>
> Kalpavriksh
> Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> 908 Deccan Gymkhana
> Pune 411004
> India
> Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
> Fax: 5654239
> Email: kvriksh@v...
Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.Post your profile.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/index.html
October 29, 2003
Tourism to hasten tribals' doom
By Shailesh Shekhar
Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan's grand plan to bring the Andamans on
India's tourist circuit could sound the death knell for tribals of
the region.
The archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, which has played home to six
tribal groups for about 20,000 years, is proposed to become
a "selective" tourist destination as per the tourism policy envisaged
for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The high-value, low-volume tourism potential of the region
notwithstanding, experts fear the cost of development will have to be
borne by these aboriginals.
The past 150 years have seen the tribals become a victim of
exploitation, first by the British and then later, by the local
administration, by its lackadaisical approach to their welfare.
Slowly and silently, the government's efforts to being the tribals to
the mainstream have only resulted in their numbers getting diminished
with each passing year.
The Great Andamanese tribe, once over 4,800-strong now stands at a
dismal 46; the Onges have been reduced to 96; the Shompens have been
gravely affected and, by now, all accept the Jarawas are on the death
road.
Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology (SANE), which
has been working overtime to protect tribals' interests, says the
government's efforts over many decades to 'tame and civilize the
tribals and bring them into the mainstream' have rather resulted in
hurting them.
Experts say the tribals in the archipelago have been on the wrong
side of most of the development plans drawn for the region so far.
The government sees the proposed tourism plan fuelling development in
the region.
"We are trying to develop the Andaman into a low volume, high yield
tourist zone," says Andaman and Nicobar Island's Lieutenant-Governor
N N Jha.
Even Jagmohan insists the tourism plan is crucial for the region and
it will not hurt the tribals. "The tribes are governed and protected
by local laws. It is for the local administration to ensure its
implementation", he says. "The plan is to de-reserve 10 islands,
relax the coastal regulation zone, reduce airfare and enhance
investment limits".
Strangely, even the Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram is one
with the Tourism Minister on the Andaman plan. Tourism should happen.
It will not disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we
will have restrictions."
Obviously, the minister is unaware of the details. Among the 10
islands that are to be opened for tourism is also Little Andaman
where the Onges were resettled in an attempt to alienate them from
the mainstream.
However, both the ministers' claims fail the moment you are in
Andamans. The local administration there continues to deal with the
aborigines in a manner that has done little good to them. Examples
abound of the times the administrators themselves became the
violators.
(HindustanTimes.com has with it an April 2003 video clip of the
Islands' Chief Secretary Pradeep Singh taking a foreigner friend and
a few fellow officers on a joy ride aboard a ship to the prohibited
Sentinalese Island.
"You need a valid pass to enter into the restricted zone", says
Tribal Welfare Director S A Awaradi. "Five kilometres from high tide
mark into the sea is Tribal Reserve." But who can stop the top man?
The tribal areas are part of his administrative domain.)
The local NGOs have been trying to secure the interest of the
tribals. On a petition from the SANE vis-à-vis the Jarawas, the
Calcutta High Court in its interim order "disallowed interaction with
the Jarawas and allowed medical aid for them near their residence,"
says Mr Awaradi. "…but a policy on the Jarawas is "still a way to go."
The local anthropologists who have been working with the tribals
say, "the Jarawas are already in touch with the settlers around their
habitation. Nothing can prevent them from coming out now. Any further
development or influx in their areas will only hasten the process of
their disintegration. We will probably have the archipelago as a
successful tourist destination but only at the cost of the
aborigines."
Dear Friends,
Hindustantimes.com is running a special series of five articles on the
situation on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third article that
was
posted today, quotes the Tribal Welfare Minister and his plans for
mainstreaming the A&N tribals in the next seven years.
A worse fate for these tribal people could not have been conceived.
The story is pasted below and so is the link, which will help you
access the
other stories as well give you an oppurtunity to post your opinion in
the
matter
Pankaj Sekhsaria
(Kalpavriksh)
Minister pokes stuffy nose in tribal matter
Shailesh Shekhar | Friday, October 31, 2003
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/andaman/jualoram.html
If Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram has his way, by 2009 no
tribal of
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will anymore be part of the Primitive
Tribe
Groups.
Since 2002, his ministry has been working steadfastly to "reform the
tribals
and assimilate them with the mainstream." This is despite a court
order,
stopping all attempts to interfere either with the tribals or their
ways of
life and living.
Minus the Nicobarese, the Jarawas, the Sentinalese, the Shompens, the
Onges
and the Great Andamanese are currently classified under the Primitive
Tribe
Group (PTG) by the tribal affairs ministry. (Indeed, this is the
first time
the Government of India has a separate ministry on Tribal Affairs and
a
Cabinet rank minister to head it.)
The minister says the PTG development has been a focus area for the
ministry. In 2002, the ministry drafted a seven-year plan to take the
category tribes out of the group. Currently, 75 tribes in India are
part of
the PTG.
The minister says earlier efforts "proved disastrous" because of the
gap
between the plans and their implementation at every level -
economically,
culturally and socially. "This time, we are engaging with NGOs such as
Ramakrishna Mission, and our Project Officers are going to be in
constant
touch with the tribes to take care in every possible manner."
The minister, of course, has assured himself that his plan neither
violates
court orders and nor interferes with tribal life. ".we just want to
know
about them. It is not right to leave them as is. They should realise
their
surroundings - that a human race exists around them.
.we will deal with them anthropologically. People only offer
suggestions, we
want solutions."
On whether the Government of India has formulated any guidelines for
the
local administration vis-à-vis the handling of the tribals, he
says, "we
have asked them not to make the life of tribals difficult."
Mr Oram is also certain that the Tourism Ministry plans for Andaman
and
Nicobar Islands must be implemented. "Tourism should happen. It will
not
disturb the tribals. They are a little away. Moreover, we will have
restrictions."
Incidentally, the minister is not part of the nodal group which has
drafted
the grand plan for tourism in the Bay of Bengal archipelago
Samir Acharya of Society for Andaman & Nicobar Society (SANE), which
has
been working overtime for the tribals' cause, says the ministry's
plan need
to be shelved immediately.
"It is the worst possible plan. They will never get away with it.
They have
almost finished the Andamanese and the Onges under the guise of
ameliorating
their living conditions. This plan should not be touched with a 20-
feet-long
pole."
Kalpavriksh
Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana
Pune 411004
India
Tel: + 91 20 5654239 / 5675450
Fax: 5654239
Email: kvriksh@...
Send Email
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