For the First Time, the Shompen Tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Voted
Port Blair: The Shompen tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands cast ballots in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections for the first time in their history. Seven members of the Shompen tribe used their democratic rights this year. Living in the deep tropical jungles of Great Nicobar Island, the Shompen people are one of the least researched Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India; they comprise a unique tribal population within the archipelago.
Geographically speaking, the Great Nicobar Island is the final landmass in India, and here is where the Shompen people reside. Being a remote tribe, they avoid contact with the settlers and former military members who live in certain areas of the island and are shut off from the main island operations. How much of the political processes they comprehend or even take part in is unknown. They have a different language. For them, there are no schools.
The tribe had 84 eligible votes in total.
However, the Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) personnel facilitates communication between outsiders and indigenous people. The Free Press Journal was informed by the Chief voting Officer of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency, Shri B. S. Jaglan, IAS, that seven members of the Shompen tribe “enthusiastically participated in the electoral process” at the Shopem Hut polling station. There were 84 eligible voters in the Shompen tribe, but only seven of them had used their right to vote.There were 229 people living in the Shompen as per the 2011 census.
Furthermore, the CEO said during a news conference that out of 68 voters, the Onge tribe (PVTGs) received 63 ballots at Dugong Creek. Similarly, 33 Great Andamanese tribal members (PVTGs) cast ballots on Strait Island, out of a total of 39. The CEO said that as of 5 p.m., the voter participation rate was 56.87%, more than anticipated. The lone Lok Sabha seat was contested by a total of 12 contestants, including two women and five independents. The Congress and the BJP candidate are in the main race.
