Port Blair, Oct 15: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has taken strong exception to the news item appearing in the a daily newspaper on 14.10.2015 questioning the allotment of 14 Hects of revenue land at Shore Point for the Andaman & Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute (ANTRI) of the Department of Tribal Welfare with a malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the Administration which had so far been so transparent and fair in reaching out the needs of the common people.
It may be appreciated that the allotment of land in question at Shore Point was made by the Revenue Department in a fair and transparent manner following the due process of law and the procedure laid down for the purpose on 13.5.2015 to none other than the Administration’s own institute i.e. the Andaman & Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute (ANTRI), established as per the directions of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt of India to formulate research based tribal welfare policy framework for addressing the specific needs of the Scheduled Tribes including the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), which had been made functional from 2.10.2013 by its formal inauguration by the Hon’ble President of India on 12.1.2014.
As the institute presently is functioning from a makeshift temporary structure at Haddo, a strong need was felt to have a proper complex for the institute with the museum also to showcase the valuable heritage of the aboriginal tribes of these islands and others. The Administration has decided to develop this institute as a Centre of Excellence, as suggested by the Central Government. The institute through its Experts of International repute and researchers has made significant contribution in providing the research driven welfare policy support to the Administration as well as the Central Government for bringing about welfare and development of the PVTGs and others in these Islands. The formulation policy of ‘Shompen’ tribe is one of the major achievements of this Institute.
The Administration has already initiated action for securing the land so allotted including its development and museum of world class for the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to take pride of by according sanction and funding of the project both by the Central Govt in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and UT Administration.
