Sanjib Kumar Roy, ENS
Port Blair, Jan 22: The Union Home Minister of India today said that nothing will be imposed on Jarawa primitive tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Addressing a press conference, at Raj Niwas this evening the Home Minister said that there is no move for mainstreaming Jarawa Tribes.
“These issues have to be understood and discussed carefully. The word ‘Mainstreaming’ is understood differently by different people. About mainstreaming Jarawa, it is them to decide. Government policy is that development should be there at the pace and speed, at which they want. Nothing will be imposed on them or thrust on them. It is on them how much they want to accept and at what speed,” the Home Minister said.
Regarding Buffer Zone he said that he won’t be able to reply much as the case is in Supreme Court. “The matter has been discussed in great details and it is felt that some corrections in some regulations are needed,” he added.
Regarding ATR he said that the Government is waiting for final court’s order on Andaman Trunk Road. “There was decision to close down two stretches of Andaman Trunk Road of 43 km and 13 km length. If implemented the ATR will reduced into just three bits of roads,” he said.
About Airfare he said that it is the Airlines Companies, who decide the airfare and not the government. “Talks are on in this issue and it is likely that one or two airlines will come around and after that hopefully the airfare will come down,” the Home Minister said.
Regarding Assembly for Andaman and Nicobar Islands he said that there is no proposal for Assembly for these Islands, as of now. The Home Minister also said that according to the census report there is no evidence of ‘influx’ in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
About tsunami rehabilitation works he said that the tsunami rehabilitation work has been completed in these Islands, except carpeting 4.85 km of roads and distributing compensation against submerged land.
He said that there is no conflict between Aadhar Project and Resident Identity Cards as the Aadhar Card is just a number while RIC is the proof of our citizenship. He said that proposal for distribution of free ration for police personnel is under consideration of government of India.
