When a community that has lived in isolation for thousands of years suddenly finds itself at the crossroads of modernity, what role should the government play? For the Jarawa tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, this question became urgently relevant in the latter half of the 20th century. As development reached their pristine forests and contact with the outside world became inevitable, the Indian government initiated several significant efforts to protect the tribe while facilitating their welfare. These initiatives reflect a delicate balance between respecting indigenous autonomy and ensuring their survival in a rapidly changing world.
Table of Contents
The establishment of the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti
In 1976, recognizing the urgent need for a coordinated approach to tribal welfare, the government established the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS), a voluntary organization financed by the Central Government. This body was specifically tasked with implementing tribal development policies across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Unlike conventional government departments, the AAJVS was designed to work directly with tribal communities, understanding their unique needs and sensitivities.
At the heart of this initiative was a dedicated Jarawa cell, created with three primary objectives. First, it aimed to consolidate friendship with the Jarawa people through consistent, respectful engagement. Second, the cell focused on learning the Jarawa language-a crucial step in building genuine communication and trust. Third, it worked to coordinate efforts among various stakeholders, including the administration, Bush Police, and health experts, ensuring that all interventions were synchronized and culturally appropriate.
Today, the AAJVS continues to serve as the backbone of outreach campaigns with the Jarawas and other island tribes. The organization has developed methods tailored to the tribe’s traditional way of understanding, using their language to build awareness about various aspects of modern governance and services. The AAJVS has also created a repository of traditional folktales related to the island’s tribal groups, working to ensure their heritage and language are preserved for future generations.
Redefining the role of the Bush Police
The Bush Police represented a unique institution in Indian law enforcement history. Originally created during the British colonial era, this special force was tasked with managing the interaction between indigenous tribes and the settler population. However, by the late 1960s, it became clear that their role needed fundamental redefinition to better serve the protection of the Jarawa people.
Based on recommendations from a 1969 study team, the Bush Police’s role was comprehensively reformed. Their new duties marked a significant shift in perspective-from viewing the tribes as potential threats to recognizing them as vulnerable communities requiring protection. The reformed mandate included several key responsibilities: protecting the Jarawa tribe from external threats, preventing unauthorized entry and poaching in tribal reserves, assisting official contact parties during their expeditions, and most importantly, developing better relations with the Jarawas while learning their language.
From enforcement to protection
This transformation was more than administrative-it represented a philosophical shift. The Bush Policemen, who had been deployed on the outer peripheral fringes of Jarawa dwellings, were no longer there merely to keep the tribes confined to their areas. Instead, their primary purpose became preventing outsiders from disturbing the tribal communities. The camps, consisting of strategically located thatched hutments, served as protective barriers against poachers, illegal loggers, and unauthorized visitors.
In the 1990s, the system evolved further with the establishment of Jarawa Protection Posts (JPPs). This new approach emphasized that tribals were not aggressors but vulnerable populations requiring safeguarding. During any confrontation between Jarawas and local people, JPP staff coordinate with tribal welfare department personnel and tribal mediators to negotiate solutions. The focus shifted entirely from protection from the tribes to protection of the tribes.
The Andaman Trunk Road controversy and government response
Perhaps no single issue has generated more debate regarding Jarawa welfare than the construction of the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). This 340-kilometer highway, completed in 1998, runs directly through the Jarawa reserve, connecting Port Blair in the south to Diglipur in the north. While the road dramatically reduced travel time between islands-from several days by sea to just hours by road-it also brought unprecedented external contact to the Jarawa territory.
In 1980, responding to growing concerns about the road’s impact, a high-level committee was formed on the direction of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to study the situation. The committee’s findings were sobering. They concluded that the ideal scenario would be no road at all through the Jarawa reserve. However, recognizing the practical challenges of completely abandoning this vital infrastructure, the committee suggested the next best alternative: realigning the road as far away from the Jarawa Reserve boundary as possible.
Ongoing protective measures
Despite the challenges posed by the ATR, the police department has implemented a convoy system from Jirkatang to Middle Strait. Vehicles are permitted to move only during restricted hours and in supervised convoys, with armed escorts at the front, middle, and back of each convoy. Strict speed limits are enforced, and tourists are closely monitored to prevent interaction with the Jarawa people. Photography is strictly prohibited, carrying penalties of up to three years imprisonment under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment Regulation, 2012.
The government has also demarcated buffer zones extending five kilometers around the Jarawa reserve, where entry is prohibited for anyone other than tribal members. These measures aim to minimize disturbance to the Jarawa community while maintaining necessary connectivity for island residents.
Health initiatives and cultural preservation
Government health interventions have been particularly carefully managed. Contact with outsiders exposed the Jarawa to diseases against which they had no immunity. Measles epidemics in 1999 and subsequent years affected significant portions of the population, highlighting the dangers of uncontrolled contact. In response, health camps are now conducted periodically at forest edges, providing vaccinations and medical treatment while minimizing intrusion into Jarawa territory.
One pivotal moment in building trust came in 1996 when Enmei, a young Jarawa man, was found with a fractured ankle. The administration provided medical treatment and safely returned him to his settlement after recovery. This incident proved crucial in fostering mutual trust and respect between the Jarawas and the administration, paving the way for more constructive engagement.
Looking toward the future
These government efforts represent an ongoing experiment in balancing development with cultural preservation. The Jarawa population has grown from around 260 in 1998 to over 400 today, suggesting that some interventions have been beneficial. Recent milestones, such as the enrollment of 19 Jarawa members as voters in 2025, demonstrate evolving engagement while maintaining respect for tribal autonomy.
Yet challenges remain. The ATR continues to facilitate both necessary connectivity and problematic tourism. Poaching and illegal logging persist despite enforcement efforts. The question of how much integration is appropriate versus how much isolation should be maintained continues to generate debate among policymakers, anthropologists, and tribal rights activists.
What makes these government initiatives significant is not their perfection-they have faced criticism and required constant adjustment-but rather their acknowledgment that indigenous communities deserve protection and respect. The AAJVS, reformed Bush Police, and various protective regulations represent an attempt, however imperfect, to ensure the Jarawa people can chart their own future while receiving support from the state.
What do you think? How can governments balance the need for development and connectivity with the imperative to protect indigenous communities? Is it possible to provide healthcare and other benefits while truly minimizing cultural disruption, or does any contact inevitably lead to assimilation?
References
- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/isolated-hostile-for-long-andamans-jarawa-tribals-now-enrolled-as-voters/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands_Police
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/3/21/un-steps-in-to-save-andaman-tribe
- https://www.outlookindia.com/national/for-the-first-time-members-of-andamans-jarawa-tribe-included-in-voter-list
Leave a Reply