New Delhi
In yet another bid to ensure a gradual integration of the Union Territory’s indigenous communities, the Andaman and Nicobar police has finalised the recruitment of as many as 140 “willing” Nicobari tribals and members from the Great Andamanese and Onge Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in its force.
“I would like to congratulate all the willing PVTGs and Nicobari tribe who successfully secured their position in our Department. We will provide them with a special training session considering their culture and tradition,” news agency PTI quoted Director General of Police, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal as saying.
“The recruitment process was carried out with a strong emphasis on inclusive representation and participation, especially from women candidates. The final selection also features candidates with academic and technical qualifications in fields such as hotel management, computer applications, and ITI trades. Their commitment will strengthen community-oriented policing in the Islands,” he said. The new recruits will join as Home Guard Volunteers.
The officer said their recruitment process was successfully concluded in a fair, transparent and meticulous manner.
Elaborating further, the DGP said, “A Total of 132 Nicobari candidates, including 41 females, three Great Andamanese, including one female and five Onge, are now part of our police family.”
In an earlier instance, the gradual integration has been noticed among other PVTGs such as Shompens and Jarawas (Ang) who live in their respective reserved dense forests where non-tribals are barred.
In a landmark development on April 19, 2024, seven members of the Shompen tribe voted for the first time in the Lok Sabha elections. Shompens are predominantly uncontacted nomadic hunters, with a population of 244 on Nicobar Island.
The Ang (Jarawa) tribe is also adapting to mainstream lifestyles, with initiatives such as the ‘AngKatha’ educational module documenting their rituals and ethnobotanical knowledge.
One of the selected Onge candidates of Dugong Creek, Tibilachu, told PTI, “I don’t have words to express my gratitude to the Andaman police. It was a tough journey for me, but I am happy to clear all the tests.”
Another Great Andamanese female selected candidate, Kelu from Strait Island, felt that more PVTGs will come forward to join the mainstream even as she expressed her desire to learn combat skills during her tenure in the A&N police.
