Administration takes steps to contain spread of COVID-19 infection among the tribes especially Jarawa

Port Blair, Aug 07: The Administration endeavours to protect Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and keep them safe from COVID-19 pandemic.  Keeping this in mind, the Administration has taken a number of proactive steps from March, 2020 itself, to contain spread of COVID-19 infection among the tribes especially Jarawa who are more exposed to non-tribal passing through Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) and fishermen on the west coast. The other PVTGs such as Onges, Andamanese and Shompen are living in isolated settlements where contact with outsiders is very negligible.

The Administration has restricted convoy to one and allowing movement of only essential goods carrying vehicles/ ambulance/ hearse van and emergency travel of public on the ATR.  The Tribal have been sensitized about COVID -19 with pictures/videos in their own language by field staff.  All field staff and PRI functionaries and villagers of area adjoining the tribal reserve have been sensitized with Do’s & Don’ts and Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for COVID-19.  Hoardings containing Do’s & Don’ts have put in place in Jirkatang and Middle Strait for information of the general public travelling on the ATR passing through Jarawa Tribal Reserve.

Prior to spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the islands, the Administration shifted all Jarawa tribe to west coast as a containment measure, where there is minimal possibility of interaction with outsiders. Administration is providing some food articles as supplementary nutrition so as to reduce their tendency to return to ATR.  Intensified patrolling has been put in place on the west coast to prevent any contact of fishermen/ poachers with Jarawa with the help of Police and Fisheries Departments.

The officials of Police, Health, Electricity and Education Departments are being screened/tested before entry in the tribal settlements at Strait Island and Dugong Creek.

AAJVS has reduced the number of field workers engaged for the welfare and protection of Jarawa tribe and coming directly in contact with Jarawa to minimum. Moreover, these workers are regularly sensitized to interact with tribal with face mask, gloves and from a distance so as to avoid any contact with tribal.

Further in view of surging COVID-19 cases in the islands, the Administration as a proactive measure has decided to test all the field functionaries for COVID-19 when a few AAJVS workers were found positive.These workers were not deputed for duty for about a fortnight before as they are residents of densely populated areas and they have been isolated.  As a preventive measure, the Administration had been conducting thermal screening from March end and now started Rapid Antigen testing of crew of commercial vehicles and travellers passing through ATR at Ferrargunj.Till date all thePVTGs are safe and the Administration is committed to protect our human heritage.