Abstract
This paper is located in the critical exploration of concepts, policies, practices and ethical underpinnings of the dominant disaster discourse, which guides disaster management practices not just in India but also globally. While the arguments specifically pertain to the Nicobarese tribal community of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANIs), they do have larger relevance. The paper is based on the author’s experience of working closely with the islanders for five years, since the tsunami of 2004.
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Notes
- 1.
This monumental study on the people of India concludes that in no other nation is there such human diversity and complexity of social organization.
- 2.
Recognizing this, the year 1993 was declared by the UN as the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People. The need to safeguard land and cultural heritage of indigenous people has been stressed for several decades (Tamayo et al. 2010). It is rightly argued that the real interest of modern capitalist societies is not the preservation of the earth and its elements, but its exploitation.
- 3.
Under the Andaman and Nicobar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation (ANPATR) of 1956, the tribes were declared protected and entry of outsiders to these islands is highly restricted. It also regulates trade in the district. Any ‘outsider’ needs a ‘tribal pass’ and a ‘Forest permit’ to enter, with purpose and period of visit clearly recorded.
- 4.
It implies that members of a group behave towards members of another group as the members of that group, or a third group, are expected to behave, in turn, towards them. Generally, the production and distribution of material goods is determined by non-economic social relations.
- 5.
Vignettes are narratives or stories presented as direct quotes, often interpreted from the researcher's notes during interviews or focused group discussions. Vignettes help the reader link theory with field research.
- 6.
For a critical appraisal of the TCPO proposal for A&NIs see Andharia et al. (2007).
- 7.
This became very evident when the A&N Command comprising the head of the armed forces (CINCAN) and the administration (chief secretary) had to be set up under the aegis of the Lt. Governor to create convergence and coordination.
- 8.
Nicobarese are coastal communities and they moved from one settlement to another through canoes. The road network on the islands was very limited, even as they were asked to move inland on higher ground.
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Appendices
Appendix 1
Population of scheduled tribes
Sl. No. | Name of the scheduled tribes | Ut/District/Tehsil | Population (2001 census) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andamanese | A&N Islands | 43 |
Dist—Andamans | 43 | ||
Teh—Rangat | 34 | ||
Teh—Port Blair | 9 | ||
2 | Jarawas | A&N Islands | 240 |
Dist—Andamans | 240 | ||
Teh—Rangat | 106 | ||
Teh—Ferrangunj | 134 | ||
3 | Onges | A&N Islands | 96 |
Dist—Andamans | 96 | ||
Teh—Port Blair | 96 | ||
4 | Sentinelese | A&N Islands | 39 |
Dist—Andamans | 39 | ||
Teh—Port Blair | 39 | ||
5 | Nicobarese | A&N Islands | 28,653 |
Dist—Andamans | 2486 | ||
Teh—Diglipur | 23 | ||
Teh—Mayabunder | 74 | ||
Teh—Rangat | 67 | ||
Teh—Ferrangunj | 74 | ||
Teh—Port Blair | 2248 | ||
Dist—Nicobars | 26,167 | ||
Teh—Car Nicobar | 15,899 | ||
Teh—Nancowry | 10,268 | ||
6 | Shompens | A&N Islands | 398 |
Dist—Nicobars | 398 | ||
Teh—Nancowry | 398 |
Appendix 2
Government relief and rehabilitation programmes
Relief operations | |
Relief Camps | 207 nos. |
Persons in camps | 46,023 |
Island wise shelters | |
Car Nicobar | 3866 units |
Kamorta | 470 |
Nancowry | 269 |
Katchal | 315 |
Teressa | 824 |
Campbell Bay | 1154 |
South Andaman | 729 |
Little Andaman | 1945 |
Total | 9572 |
Rajiv Gandhi rehabilitation package for tsunami affected areas in A&N Islands | ||
|---|---|---|
S. No. | Nature of assistance | Approved norms |
1 | Loss of limbs/eyes | Rs. 25,000/– per person |
2 | Grievous injury | Rs. 5000/– per person |
3 | Damaged houses | |
(i) Fully damaged houses | ||
Pucca house | Rs. 10,000/– per house | |
Katcha house | Rs. 6000/– per house | |
(ii) Severely damaged houses | Rs. 2000/– per house | |
(iii) Marginally damaged houses | Rs. 2000/– per house | |
4 | Loss of life | Rs. 100,000/– |
5 | Missing persons | Rs. 100,000/– |
6 | House holds articles and belonging | Rs. 10,000/– per family |
7 | Temporary relief for affected families | Rs. 3000/– per family |
8 | Relief to small business enterprises | Rs. 10,000/– each |
9 | Assistance to artisan | |
(i) Damaged equipment | Rs. 1000/– | |
(ii) Raw materials | Rs. 1000/– | |
10 | Paddy crop loss | Rs. 2000/– per hectare |
11 | Plantation crop loss | Rs. 4000/– per hectare |
12 | Submerged land | Rs. 10,000/– per hecatare |
13 | Saline-affected land | Rs. 5000/– per hectare |
List of household items for tsunami victims (at least five members in a family) at the time of their occupying the intermediate shelters
Sl. No. | Name of the items | Quantity |
1 | Stove | 1 |
2 | Stove pin | 1 |
3 | Kerosene | 10 L gallon |
4 | Big frying pan | 1 |
5 | Vessel (aluminium) with lid (for cooking dal, rice, veg., etc.) | 4 Nos. big size |
6 | Vessel (steel with lid) (for tea, milk) | 3 medium size |
7 | Pincer | 1 |
8. | Plate | 5 big size |
9 | Plate | 5 small size |
10 | Bowl (dish) | 5 |
11 | Steel glasses | 5 |
12 | Plastic glasses | 5 |
13 | Griddle (tava) | 1 |
14 | Round dough board | 1 |
15 | Spoon | 3 (big size) |
16 | Spoon | 5 (small size) |
17 | Water jug | 2 |
18 | Basin (for atta mixing) | 1 |
19 | Pot/Pitcher (for water filling) | 1 |
20 | Bucket and small drum (for keeping water) | 1 each |
21 | Bucket (aluminium) | 2 (medium size) |
22 | Bucket (plastic) | 1 (medium size) |
23 | Mug (plastic) | 1 |
24 | Knife | 1 (big size) |
1 (small size) | ||
25 | Spices box | 1 |
26 | Aluminium tin (for keeping food grains) | 4 (big size) |
27 | Small steel box (for keeping tealeaves, sugar etc.) | 4 |
28 | Plastic box (for keeping biscuits etc.) | 4 |
29 | Trunk | 2 |
30 | Mosquito net | 2 |
31 | Mats | 2 |
32 | Plastic chairs | 2 |
33 | Emergency light | 1 |
34 | Candle | 1 pkt. |
35 | Torch | 1 |
36 | Battery | 2 set. |
37 | Mosquito coil | 1 pkt. |
38 | Match box | 1 pkt. |
39 | Soap (bathing) | 2 |
40 | Soap (washing) | 2 |
41 | Cloth washing powder | 1 kg |
42 | Vessel washing powder | 500 g |
43 | Shaving set (including cream, blade, paste, brush and Detol) | 1 |
44 | Tooth paste | 1 |
45 | Tooth brush | 5 |
46 | Comb | 2 |
47 | Mirror | 1 |
48 | Hair oil | 1 bottle (medium size) |
49 | Face powder | 1 (medium size) |
50 | Needle and thread | 1 |
51 | Scissor | 1 |
52 | Phenyl | 1 bottle |
53 | Broom | 1 |
54 | Pillow | 5 |
55 | Matress | 2 |
56 | Bed sheet | 3 |
57 | Bed | 1 |
58 | Rope (nylone) | 5 m/10 mm |
59 | Dust bin | 1 (for house) |
60 | Dust bin | 1 (for each village) |
61 | Umbrella | 1 |
Ration for one month
1. | Rice (raw or boil) | 20 kg |
2. | Atta (wheat) | 10 kg |
3. | Dal (arhar, moung, urd, channa) | 2 kg each |
4. | Kala channa | 1 kg |
5. | Mustard, meti, turmeric, coriander (dhania), Chilly (red), jeera, etc. | 100 g each |
6. | Asafoetida (hing) | 1 |
7. | Salt | 1 kg |
8. | Edible oil | 3 kg |
9. | Sambar masala and chilly powder | 100 g each |
10. | Tamarind | 1 |
11. | Suji | 1 kg |
12. | Sugar | 3 kg |
13. | Tea leaves/coffee | 1 Pkt. (medium size) |
14. | Amulspray | 1 Tin. |
Clothes |
|---|
Sarees, blouse, petticoat, gown, underwear, towel |
T-shirts, lungi/pant, underwear, towel |
Toys, cloths, shirt, pant, frock and slipper |
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Andharia, J. (2020). One Size Fits All? Polemics of Disaster Management and Development from the Perspective of Post Tsunami Experiences of Nicobari Islanders. In: Andharia, J. (eds) Disaster Studies. Disaster Studies and Management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9339-7_13
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