Stepping into the Nicobarese world

Stepping into the Nicobarese world
Simron Jit Singh
IFF-Social Ecology, Vienna, Austria
Earlier, it were the “experts” to develop
scenarios, now increasingly “steak-holders” are
engaged… (Marc)
When experts intervene…
There You go!
Stepping into the Nicobarese world
Simron Jit Singh
IFF-Social Ecology, Vienna, Austria
Port Blair
NICOBARS
ANDAMANS
Map © Schueler
¾ Located some 1,200 km off the east coast of India
¾ The islands are protected since 1956 under the Protection
of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation Act (PATR)
¾ Total number of islands are 22, of which only 12 are
inhabited largely by Nicobarese, and Shompens
¾ Other groups are government administration, the
defence, ex-army personnel, the Sri Lankan expatriates,
illegal traders and temporary construction labourers
Map © Schueler
Trinket after Tsunami
Trinket after Tsunami
Pilpillow after Tsunami
Chowra after Tsunami
Katchal after Tsunami
Car Nicobar after Tsunami
Mus Jetty, Car Nicobar
¾ the loss of coconut trees invariably planted along the shores
brought their market economy to a standstill
¾ destruction of coastal ecosystem such as mangroves and coral
reefs, together with the rise in sea-level, makes it difficult to
catch fish and other sea-food.
¾ deformation of the coastline makes navigation difficult
¾ loss of boats and lack of other means of communication have
rendered the Nicobarese immobile and stranded
¾ besides loss of villages and household property, most of the pigs
escaped into the forest and gone wild
¾ Some 60 local, national and international NGOs camped in
Port Blair; severe competition, territorialism, non-cooperation,
non-sharing of information;
¾ Nicobars had been badly devastated, being close to the epicentre
¾ The race was to enter the Nicobar islands that are protected
under Indian law since 1956; permission temporarily granted
¾ Some NGOs tried to create internal disharmony and confusion by
luring smaller groups with expensive promises, and challenging
the legitimacy of the Tribal Council
1
What was the impact of tsunami aid?
¾ disintegration of the joint family system
¾ increase in the number of household and
intergenerational conflicts (over money and
land)
¾ social stratification on the rise
¾ impact on the political structure, change in
preference of leadership and inter- island
dynamics (weakening of TC / NYA)
¾ Increasing consumption & changing lifestyle
¾ Rise in corruption and internal exploitation
Society
Set of
choices
Input – Output
Matrix
Demand
Demographic
module
•Resources
Investment
•Money
•time
Let the
real
people
decide?
Does it match
Yield / Investment
?
Landcover /
Landuse
Run
Environment
Fish module
Reef
Conditions i.e.:
Coral
•Climate change
Algea
off