Port Blair, Aug 30: The Andaman & Nicobar Administration has started a vigorous campaign to ensure the welfare of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Andaman Islands. As claimed by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, in it its official mouthpiece, ‘The Daily Telegrams’, as a proactive measure the Jarawa were shifted to the West Coast while the Great Andamanese were shifted to Strait Island when the Corona pandemic broke in the islands. Convoys on the ATR has also been restricted to ensure the safety of the Jarawa community, while field functionaries have been regularly advised to interact with tribals with face mask, gloves and keeping distance.
The steps taken by the A&N Administration to prevent spread of Covid-19 infection among the PVTGs, as narrated by ‘The Daily Telegrams’ needs applauds. There is no doubt that the Administration means for the welfare of the PVTGs. But in spite of all proactive measures in place, as many as 13 among the Great Andamanese tribe including two non-tribal spouse have been infected by the virus.
Reports gathered also indicate that the A&N Administration is now on a vigorous health check (corona test) of the PVTGs especially among the Jarawa community.
A medical team along with the AAJVS staff had visited the Jarawa Tribal Reserve from Temple Myo field office of the AAJVS on 28th August 2020. The team had left in the morning hours and had returned by the afternoon. Credible and reliable sources inform that one of the Daily Wages AAJVS worker named Navin Roy posted at Temple Myo who had accompanied the team was tested positive for Corona virus.
Sources also add that the samples of the AAJVS worker, a resident of Herbertabad was taken on 25th August 2020, the result of which was received on 28th August 2020. The worker was shifted from the spot at around 3.00 pm in a vehicle that was sent. A sticker has also been pasted on the house of the AAJVS worker.
Credible sources further inform that earlier the AAJVS staffs at Jirkatang – Middle Strait (JTR) namely Uday Kumar and Veerasami had tested positive and were under home quarantine. One lady staff posted to look after the tribal patients at GB Pant, namely Ms. Devika had tested positive to the virus. Apart from the above, the Driver of the Executive Secretary was also tested positive. Further Shri Sukh Bahadur, AAJVS staff who served in the Jarawa Reserve along with Uday Kumar and Veersami had tested positive and remained under treatment at GB Pant Hospital.
It is not that the Andaman & Nicobar Administration is at fault when it comes to protecting the PVTGs of Andaman Islands. But the fact remains that while being proactive to safeguard the interest of the PVTGs, the Administration needs ensure that the workers and the team sent to contact the tribes/ to get sample for COVID are clear from the infection.
Not every concern raised by the general public or media are rumours, as is being projected by senior officials of the A&N Administration on social media. At this crucial time when there is a surge in the number of Corona positive cases in the islands, it is expected that the authorities heading the Administration start accepting the ground realities and act accordingly instead of threatening the messengers or filing FIRs and cases against them. This will be only in the best interest of the PVTGs, the settlers and the policy makers during the crucial stage of fight against corona.
“#AndamanFightsCorona is a real battle on the ground and isn’t restricted to social media where concerns are termed as rumours and messengers threatened”, said a senior citizen who has been concerned for his people and his place of birth i.e the Andaman Islands. Source: andamanchronicle
