Nicobar tribal concerns on NCST table again, islands council flags 'unanswered concerns', Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The tribal council of Little and Great Nicobar Islands has raised concerns with the NCST regarding the impact of the Great Nicobar mega-project on tribal lands and forest rights.
• The council's petition, dated December 6, was triggered by an interview with NCST Chairperson Antar Singh Arya, who stated the commission hadn't received representations about the withdrawal of a no-objection certificate.
• The council had earlier complained to the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs in July about false claims regarding the settlement of forest rights, stating that the recognition process hadn't even begun.
• The ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar infrastructure project involves the diversion of 130 sq km of forest land for various constructions.

Detailed Insights:

• The primary concern revolves around the impact of the mega-project on the ancestral lands of the Nicobarese community, displaced by the 2004 tsunami, and the vulnerable Shompen tribe.
• The tribal council explicitly stated their opposition to locating the project in their villages or areas used by the Shompen tribe, whose population is limited to only hundreds.
• In 2022, the tribal council revoked its no-objection certificate for the diversion of 130 sq km of forest and the de-notification of a tribal reserve spanning 84.10 sq km, citing a lack of awareness that their tribal reserve would be affected.
• The council expressed distress over the inclusion of pre-tsunami villages like Chingenh, Ko-keon, Pulo Pucca, Pulo Baha, and In-haeng-loi in the de-notification plans, impacting their desire to return to their ancestral lands.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): A constitutional body in India established to safeguard the interests of Scheduled Tribes.
• Forest Rights Act, 2006: An Indian law that grants legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities.
• Tribal Reserve: An area of land set aside for the use and occupation of indigenous or tribal communities.