Nicobari Tribe and PVTGs Join Andaman Police as Home Guard Volunteers

Introduction

A significant step towards:

tribal inclusion and participatory governance

has been witnessed in the:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands,

where:

140 individuals

belonging to:

• Nicobari tribe
• and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

have been recruited into:

Andaman and Nicobar Police

as:

• Home Guard Volunteers.

The initiative reflects growing efforts towards:

• gradual integration,
• institutional participation,
• and socio-economic inclusion of indigenous tribal communities.

Tribal Communities Included in Recruitment

The selected candidates belong to:

• Nicobari tribe,
• Onge,
• and Great Andamanese communities.

According to official data:

• 132 Nicobari candidates
  • including:
    • 41 women
• 3 Great Andamanese
  • including:
    • 1 woman
• 5 Onge candidates

were selected.The recruitment process was described as:

• fair,
• transparent,
• and inclusive.

Nature of Appointment

The selected tribal candidates will serve as:

Home Guard Volunteers

within:

• Andaman and Nicobar Police.

The administration stated that:

• special training programmes
  would be organised considering:
• tribal culture,
• traditions,
• and community sensitivities.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening:

• community-oriented policing,
• trust-building,
• and tribal participation in public institutions.

Emphasis on Inclusive Representation

The recruitment process placed special focus on:

• women participation,
• educational inclusion,
• and technical skill representation.

Selected candidates reportedly possess qualifications in:

• hotel management,
• computer applications,
• and ITI trades.

This indicates:

• increasing educational exposure,
• skill development,
• and institutional engagement among tribal youth.

Gradual Integration of PVTGs

Officials highlighted that:

• gradual integration of PVTGs into mainstream governance structures
  is taking place through:
• voluntary participation,
• communication-based outreach,
• and tribal welfare initiatives.

The process is particularly significant because many tribal groups in the islands historically remained:

• geographically isolated,
• semi-nomadic,
• or minimally contacted.

The administration clarified that integration efforts are being pursued:

• based on willingness of tribal communities.

Link with Electoral Inclusion

The article also referenced a historic democratic milestone:

• participation of the:
  • Shompen tribe
    in:
• Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

On:

• 19 April 2024,

members of the Shompen community voted for the:

• first time in a General Election.

The development symbolised:

• expansion of democratic inclusion,
• political participation,
• and institutional outreach to remote tribal populations.

Jarawa Community and Cultural Documentation

The administration referred to:

“AngKatha”

an educational module documenting:

• rituals,
• traditions,
• and ethnobotanical knowledge
  of the:
• Jarawa (Ang) tribe.

Such educational modules aim to:

• preserve indigenous knowledge,
• document tribal culture,
• and facilitate culturally sensitive engagement.

The initiative reflects attempts to balance:

• integration,
• welfare,
• and cultural preservation.

Community-Oriented Policing

The inclusion of tribal youth in policing may strengthen:

• communication with indigenous communities,
• local trust,
• conflict resolution,
• and culturally informed administration.

Community representation in institutions can improve:

• participatory governance,
• administrative outreach,
• and policy implementation in remote island regions.

Governance and Policy Significance

The initiative highlights broader themes of:

• social inclusion,
• tribal empowerment,
• constitutional participation,
• and inclusive governance.

At the same time, it also raises important considerations regarding:

• protection of indigenous identity,
• cultural autonomy,
• and sensitive state engagement with vulnerable communities.

The policy approach therefore requires balancing:

• welfare and development,
  with:
• preservation of tribal heritage and autonomy.

NECESSARY STATIC PART

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

Total Number in India

• 75

Characteristics

• Geographical isolation
• Economic backwardness
• Low literacy
• Pre-agrarian practices
• Declining or stagnant population

PVTGs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Major PVTGs

• Great Andamanese
• Jarawa
• Onge
• Sentinelese
• Shompen

Nicobari Tribe

Status

• Scheduled Tribe

Region

• Nicobar Islands

Characteristics

• Indigenous tribal community of the Nicobar Islands
• Comparatively more integrated than other island PVTGs

Andaman and Nicobar Police

Function

• Maintenance of law and order
• Internal security
• Community policing
• Public safety administration in the Union Territory

DGP Mentioned in Article

• Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal

Home Guard Volunteers

Nature

• Auxiliary voluntary force supporting police administration

Functions

• Community assistance
• Public safety support
• Disaster response
• Law and order assistance

Shompen Tribe

Status

• PVTG

Region

• Great Nicobar Island

Characteristics

• Nomadic hunter-gatherer community
• Historically isolated tribal group

Jarawa Tribe (Ang)

Status

• PVTG

Region

• Andaman Islands

Characteristics

• Indigenous hunter-gatherer community
• Forest-dwelling tribal population

Updated - 03 August 2025 | 02:26 PM IST | News Source – The Hindu