Andaman & Nicobar Islands
A paradise of unparalleled natural beauty
By Prof. Ram Kapse, Lt. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
What an air traveler sees as the plane starts its final descent towards the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a vision of enchanting beauty--brilliant green islands fringed with coral reefs floating in the vast blue of the Bay of Bengal. A modern airport capable of handling Airbus A 320 aircraft receives at least three planeloads of passengers--tourists, government officials and local residents--daily. The wide, clean roads are full of busy small cars and scooters. Conspicuous by their absence are the ubiquitous cycles and rickshaws that clog the roads of any Indian city. So are the beggars. Shiny new buildings rise from amidst the ‘wood and tin sheet’ houses of the penal colony days, visible indicators of growing prosperity. Hoardings advertise mobile phone services. New hotels and tour operators beckon the tourists. Special cruises to Barren Island, the ‘only active volcano of India’ are fully booked. Port Blair, the sleepy capital of the former penal colony, is fast emerging as a bustling tourist destination.
The tourists are excited about the visit to Barren Island, mud volcano, coral viewing, Sound & Light show at the Cellular Jail National Memorial and enjoy the sight of the luxuriant tropical forests. They would also visit Chidiya Tapu, famous for its glorious sunsets. The foreign tourists have their eyes set on the Radha Nagar Beach on Havelock Island, reputed to be one of the best in Asia. They would prefer scuba diving, snorkeling and game fishing.
However, the Islands are not just a tourist paradise. They are the country’s bulwark against any misadventure by a foreign power. They are symbols of the country’s defence preparedness. They are our sentinels in the sea. A Unified Command keeps watch over the vast coastline and guards the Exclusive Economic Zone, which, at 0.6 million sq.kms. accounts for 30% of the total EEZ of India. Foreign poachers are regularly rounded up during the patrolling. It is the rich fishing grounds that attract them. Routine exercises with neighbouring countries are carried out in the Island waters.
The Islands are also home to a variety of rare plant and animal species. Nicobari Macaque, Saltwater Crocodile, Imperial Pigeon, Narcondum Hornbill, Megapod, Dugong, a wide variety of orchids and plants are among the flora and fauna found in the Islands. The large biodiversity and the unique eco systems attract naturalists and scientists from the world over. Forests cover over 86% of the Islands leaving only 50,000 ha for cultivation. A Supreme Court order protects the forest against any degradation. Encroachments on forestland are not tolerated.
For anthropologists the Islands are the only place in the world where Stone Age tribes could still be found in their native habitat. The Sentinelese still live in total isolation on North Sentinel Island, shooting an occasional arrow against low flying aircraft. The Jarawas go about their hunting-gathering way of life in the Jarawa reserve. Contact between non-tribals and tribals is strictly regulated by the Tribal Welfare Department and the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samity. The 50 strong Great Andamanese, once the most numerous, lead comfortable lives on Strait Island. The Onges fish and hunt in their tribal reserve on Little Andaman. The presence of these negrito tribes, related more to the African tribes, on the Islands is still a mystery. The Shompens of Great Nicobar are also a ‘primitive’ tribe but more akin to the mongoloid tribes of Indonesia. The Nicobaris are well educated and compete in the national and international arenas for medals in water sports, cycling and football. The negrito tribes on the Andaman group, surprisingly, had a premonition about the tsunami and moved to higher ground. The worst sufferers were the coastal dwelling Nicobaris who were taken by surprise.
Educationally the Islands are among the most literate among the states, ranking 8th in the country. The literacy rate according to the 2001 census is 81.8%. Schools are to be found even in the remotest areas. The tribal Nicobar district has achieved 100% enrollment in schools. The “Government BR Ambedkar Polytechnic” has ISO certificate and NBA accreditation.
In the area of Primary Health care the Islands rank first among the UTs. PHCs can be found even in sparsely populated islands. The referral hospital at Port Blair and the district hospitals at Car Nicobar and Mayabunder are equipped with modern diagnostic equipment and tele-medicine facility. Almost all medical facilities are free.
Fisheries, high value agriculture, horticulture, spices and medicinal plants have been identified as thrust areas. Absence of pollution, slow and comfortable pace of life and reasonable prosperity make the Islands and ideal place for those who want to get away from the madding crowds of cities. There is need to preserve this ambience. The Earthquake and the Tsunami of 26th December 2004 made it imperative that the plans for the future development of the islands be redrawn and the priorities re-scheduled.
The devastation wrought by the tsunami brought in its wake a wave of sympathy. From the President of India to the common man, everyone rose up to come to the aid of the people. Liberal contributions to the Lieutenant Governor’s Relief Fund helped speed up relief and rehabilitation efforts. NGOs who came to work for a few months stayed on and involved themselves in more work. Some intend to stay for five years to rebuild the damaged schools and construct permanent houses. Some came up with the much-needed medical infrastructure in a remote island by building a small hospital. Livelihood restoration is another area where the NGOs are actively involved. The media played a positive role and supported the Administration’s efforts. In a unique show of solidarity the Officials, people’s representatives, NGOs, the media and the common man worked as a well-knit team in tackling the crisis. There was not a single day of panic or confusion.
Fortunately not a single tourist was killed or injured during the earthquake and tsunami of 26th December 2004. The most popular beaches and tourism infrastructure were unaffected. Tourists are once again thronging to the Islands in large numbers. The Island Tourism Festival, a fortnight-long mega event during the tourist season, will start on 30th December 2005. Many celebrities from the world of cinema and folk arts will grace the occasion. A festive atmosphere prevails in Port Blair during the season. An advertising campaign has been launched in the print, television and Internet media. Some of the major hospitality chains are showing interest in investing in the islands. The ITDC is working on a project to enhance the infrastructure facilities on some of the Islands. With all round buoyancy in the sector, it can be hoped that the Islands would be able to project themselves as a major tourism player in the days to come.
In spite of the magnitude of the disaster the Islanders have shown remarkable resilience in recovering from the effects of the tsunami. A year after the tsunami there is renewed hope among the Islanders for a bright and prosperous future.
Source : The Hindu
