Denis Giles, Port Blair: In a sad incident that happened in Little Andaman Island today, the Onge Tribal Chief, Tai breathed his last after having detained in the Primary Health Centre, Ramakrishnapur for more than ten days. He was around 60 years old and is survived by his wife.
Sources inform that Tai was taken to the Primary Health Centre after he was not feeling well. For nearly ten days the tribal chief was detained in the PHC. When the condition of the tribal chief started deteriorating, it was decided to refer him to the GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair but the decision was too late. People are of the opinion that early diagnosis and refer to the GB Pant through airlift could have saved the Chief’s life.
The Onge which number just more than a hundred members are categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Andaman Islands. In the year 2008 as many as eight members of the tribe had died after they consumed some suspicious liquid which was washed away on the shore. This had led to the reduction of almost 10% of the entire population.
The Onge are protected under Protection of Aboriginal Tribe act and have welfare workers, health workers and the entire government machinery to look after them. The death of the Tribal Chief Tai raises questions on the health care facilities provided in Little Andaman Island, not only for the vulnerable tribes but also for other residents of the Island.