The Shompen Tribe and the Impact of the Great Nicobar Project

Why in news?

• The shompen tribes are facing issues due to the Great Nicobar Project.

About the shompen Tribe

• The Shompen tribe, one of the five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It is facing significant challenges due to the proposed Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNIDP).
• This tribe, which resides on the Great Nicobar Island, is primarily known for its unique cultural and economic lifestyle as a hunter-gatherer community.

About the Shompen Tribe

• Group Identity: The Shompen are part of the Mongoloid group, unlike other PVTGs like the Andamanese, Onges, Jarawas, and Sentinalese, who belong to the Negrito group.
• Population: According to the 2011 Census, the Shompen population is estimated at 229 people.
• Political Engagement: For the first time in history, seven members of the Shompen community cast their votes during the 2018 Lok Sabha Elections.

Cultural and Environmental Concerns

• The Great Nicobar Project has raised several concerns regarding the Shompen's environment, livelihood, and the broader development dilemma.
  • A major concern is that the land proposed for development forms a crucial foraging ground for the Shompen, whose traditional hunter-gatherer nomadic lifestyle depends on these areas.
  • The project threatens their way of life by altering the environment they rely on.
• Social Impact Assessment Issues: According to Down to Earth, the social impact assessment conducted by the authorities for the GNIDP did not involve consultations with the original inhabitants, namely the Shompen. This raises questions about the project's approach to preserving indigenous rights and interests.

PVTG Criteria and Status in India

• The criteria for identifying a PVTG includes:
  • Pre-agricultural technology
  • Low literacy
  • Economic backwardness
  • Declining or stagnant population
• There are 75 PVTGs in India, with the highest number located in Odisha (13).
• The Shompen, as one of these groups, are considered vulnerable due to their isolation and reliance on traditional ways of life.

Tribal Demographics in India

• According to the 2011 Census, tribes constitute 8.6% of India’s population.
• Madhya Pradesh has the highest tribal population in India.
• Odisha has the highest number of Scheduled Tribes (STs), with 62 tribes recognized.
• The Bhil tribe is the largest tribal group in India, making up 38% of the total ST population, followed by the Gonds and Santhal tribes.
• States with the highest tribal populations include Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

Conclusion

• The Shompen tribe faces an uncertain future amid the Great Nicobar Island Development Project. The development threatens not only their environmental resources but also their traditional way of life.
• As India grapples with development needs and tribal welfare, it is crucial that any initiatives consider the rights and voices of these indigenous communities.