telegraph.co.uk
Great Nicobar Project Threatens Indigenous Tribes
The planned city in Great Nicobar Island threatens indigenous tribes, mirroring the exploitation faced by the Jarawa tribe due to the Andaman Trunk Road, raising concerns about genocide and environmental destruction.
English
United Kingdom
LifestyleAfricaEnvironmentTourismGenocideIndigenousRoad
Indian GovernmentAndaman Chronicle
Denis Giles
- What was the author's experience while travelling through Jarawa territory?
- The author joined a tourist group traveling the ATR through Jarawa territory, highlighting the normalization of viewing the tribe. The ease of access and blatant disregard for the law underscores the failure of protective measures.
- What is the scale of environmental destruction planned for Great Nicobar Island?
- The planned city in Great Nicobar Island will destroy 130 square kilometers of primary jungle, affecting at least three Shompen tribal grounds. A source claims this constitutes genocide and is a monumental folly.
- What is the parallel drawn between the fate of the Great Nicobar tribes and the Jarawa?
- Concerns have been raised about the potential fate of the Great Nicobar tribes, mirroring the negative experiences of the Jarawa. The project's environmental impact assessment even suggested placing tribes in a reserve, raising ethical concerns.
- How is the 1956 Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act enforced in the context of the Jarawa?
- The ATR has facilitated illegal interactions with the Jarawa, including instances of sexual abuse and drug addiction. Poachers and fishermen also encroach on their territory with impunity, despite reported names of offenders.
- What are the consequences faced by the Jarawa tribe due to contact with the outside world?
- The Jarawa tribe, who have had contact with the outside world due to the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), face issues like disease, pollution, and exploitation from tourism. They are treated as a spectacle, violating the 1956 Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act.