What we don't know about Great Andamanese: Tribal Welfare Or Self Welfare?

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are known as an anthropologist's heaven, a sociologist paradise and a linguist's milkyway. Home to four aboriginal tribes namely Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge and Shompen. Andaman and Nicobar Islands have always caught our attention from long time. Our good intentions of 'civilizing' them and working for their welfare have always been on our priority list.

British colonizers of Andaman tried to 'civilize' the Great Andamanese and they ended up in their annihilation. Few souls like Man (1875),Portman (1880) etc tried to keep them in specially built homes across Andamans,collectively known as 'Andaman Homes' but that also resulted in disasters and epidemics. Later after India's independence, Tribal Welfare department of government of India came into forefront of 'welfare' activities. They started their grand plan of welfare and of bringing the tribals into the mainstream by first making a camp at Bluff Island (1949) for remaining Great Andamanese and then to Strait Island (1969) for their permanent settlement.

Today there are around 45 Great Andamanese left and their 'welfare' completely rests in the hands of tribal welfare department and its offshoot AAJVS.
For a community of such a small population, the department has employed a social worker, an agricultural worker, an electrician, an engine driver for Gen. set, a cook for the VVIP guest house at Strait Island, a pharmacist, a teacher and four police guards (this list does not include people employed at PortBlair Office of Tribal welfare department).

The surprising thing is that, only one Great Anadamanese is employed at Strait Island as police guard, that too after a long wait. Though there are five Great Andamanese employed at PortBlair in police department.
Almost all the government staff employed for 'welfare' at Strait Island share one attribute in common: the hatred and ignorance about Great Andamanese.
Most of the people come there just to complete their three month long compulsory deputation and also to avoid going to Southern Group of Islands (Nicoabr Islands) cause from there they will not be able to visit their homes frequently.
By the way, its another take at Strait Island, they can come and go as they wish. Their primary motive is to somehow finish their compulsory stay.

In Strait Island "no work" is the motto. When informed that an old lady (more than 85 years and she can barely walk) is having severe skin irritation and allergy, the pharmacist wanted her to come to the pharmacy, rather than going there to see her. He just sent some medicine without even looking at her. Although, the distance between the Pharmacy and the patient's hut was barely 40 meters.

Some police guards posted at Strait Island have only thing in mind. And that is 'how to exploit Great Andamanese men and women. at the most.
Peculiarly the Tribal Welfare department is sending only the insensitive people to that tiny island, who do not have any respect for tribals and their culture.

Another funny but sad situation was when a Tribal Welfare department staff wanted a Great Anadmanese man to be admitted in government hospital at PortBlair, so that he will not have to go back to Strait Island and he can just stay at PortBlair for medical duty.

The level of corruption at Tribal Welfare department is so rampant that it takes only a few days at PortBlair to realize where the money drain leading.
One of the Junior level officers of AAJVS owns three houses in PortBlair and one in Delhi.Another senior officer has been persistently trying to stop his promotion to a higher rank, cause from there, he will not get enough. Like wise the offices at PortBlair are all air-conditioned and equipped with extensive furniture. And all these at the expense of tribals.

Inspite having a staff strength of more than 50 people, the Tribal welfare department of Andamans fails to keep records about the aboriginal and when asked, they reply in unison 'what's the use?

It is not to say that Tribal Welfare is doing only evil, it does good things at times. But the bad deeds far outweigh the good deeds.
Another chapter will see the sun when the department will release its Post-Tsunami expenditure report.
But that will see some hard patience.

Some of the Great Andamanese pics at older times