Appreciates Administration’s initiative in setting up of ANTRI as a step for better policy formulation & implementation ::
Port Blair, Jan 12: The President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the A&N Tribal Research and Training Institute (ANTRI) today by unveiling the plaque at H/97, Main Road, Haddo, Port Blair. The young students from Andamanease indigenous tribal community welcomed the President of India by presenting bouquet on his arrival at the institute. Lt. Governor of the Islands, Lt. General (Retd) A.K Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM & VSM, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, Mr. Anand Prakash, Chief Secretary, and senior officers of A&N Administration, representatives of PRIs and people from various walks of life were present on the occasion
The President of India in his inaugural address, at the outset congratulated the A&N Administration for conceptualizing the A&N Tribal Research and Training Institute and observed that the output of the research initiatives could be the instrument for the policy guidance and policy formulation. The President noted that the assimilation as a policy had failed during colonial period and many of the tribes got decimated, as revealed from the British records. However, the President cautioned that the tribal communities have not existed in isolation but evolved over a period of time. On the other hand, mere provision of infrastructure and other facilities, may not meet the requirement of indigenous communities. The State must listen and understand the perception of the community, letting them to evolve at their own pace and time. The major role of ANTRI would be to understand how such evolution took place in the tribal community and guide the State in formulating a policy which should be dynamic to adjust with the changing field situations. The President congratulated the Administration also for the distinct concept of the proposed ANTRI museum, which would not be a mere place of collection of artifacts and social objects, as a mercantile product for tourist attraction but would like to tell the indigenous community their stories and their meanings. The President was of the view that the unique concept of ANTRI would become the benchmark for rest of the similar institutions of the Country.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands appreciated the Tribal Welfare Department for the expeditious steps taken within six months to set up the Research Institute, which was sanctioned by the Central Govt in the past decade. The Lt. Governor was confident that the proposed ANTRI museum and other infrastructural facilities would be expeditiously commissioned in a best location. He cited the objective of the UT Administration as sustainable development keeping ecological concerns and the interests of the tribal communities in the fore. Though a few of the indigenous communities’ got assimilated successfully, most other tribes suffered enormously in the last century leading to their decimation. In the islands, some of the tribals are still in isolation. With the support of the Central Govt, the UT Administration has taken steps to assist them in meeting their health and other needs. The A&N Tribal Research & Training Institute would help the UT Administration to formulate a dynamic and research driven policy, to empower the tribal communities. As a concept, the ANTRI museum will help the Particularly Vulnerable tribal communities in expressing their own voice. The Lt. Governor thanked the President of India for having chosen to devote his valuable time to visit these islands and to inaugurate the Institute
The President visited the Library and saw the exhibition put up on the occasion and a film presentation was made by Prof Vishwajit Pandya, Honorary Director, ANTRI on the concept of the proposed ANTRI museum. The function concluded with vote of thanks by Secretary (Tribal Welfare) Mr. G. Theva Neethi Dhas, followed by National Anthem, by the students of Tagore Govt College of Education, Port Blair.
