India’s President recently visited Great Nicobar, an island slated for significant development, raising concerns about the impact on the indigenous Shompen tribe.
President’s Visit to Great Nicobar
- Droupadi Murmu, India’s President, visited Great Nicobar, which is earmarked for a multi-billion dollar development project aiming to turn it into a shipping hub and tourist destination.
Concerns Raised by Experts
- Despite government enthusiasm, experts warn that the development could lead to the extinction of the indigenous Shompen tribe, who inhabit the island.
- A group of 39 experts cautioned President Murmu that the project could result in genocide for the Shompen people.
- The government’s plan to transform the southern part of Great Nicobar into the “Hong Kong of India” is viewed as potentially devastating for the Shompen community.
Shompen Tribe and Risks
- The Shompen tribe, numbering between 100 and 400 individuals, are nomadic hunter-gatherers living in the island’s rainforest.
- They have limited contact with the outside world, with very few having interacted with outsiders.
- The development project could bring as many as 650,000 people to the island, significantly impacting the Shompen’s way of life and increasing the risk of diseases due to contact with outsiders.
Government’s Perspective
- The government justifies the project as a means to unlock the region’s economic potential and counter China’s influence in the area.
- Promotional materials highlight economic benefits and improvements to residents’ quality of life.
Concerns and Opposition
- Critics argue that the development will encroach upon the Shompen’s land and disrupt their way of life, leading to potential extinction.
- Even government reports acknowledge the threat to the Shompen’s existence posed by environmental disturbances.
- Calls for abandoning the project to protect the Shompen tribe persist, emphasizing the irreversible consequences of the development.
Conclusion
Despite widespread concerns, the Indian government is expected to proceed with the project, prompting continued calls for its reconsideration to safeguard the indigenous Shompen tribe.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the primary purpose of the multi-billion dollar development project in Great Nicobar?
a) Promoting eco-tourism
b) Enhancing the indigenous tribe’s way of life
c) Establishing a shipping hub and tourist destination
d) Protecting the island’s unique ecology
Answer: c) Establishing a shipping hub and tourist destination - Who warned India’s President about the potential genocide of the Shompen people due to the development project?
a) A group of environmentalists
b) International human rights organizations
c) 39 experts
d) Local government officials
Answer: c) 39 experts - What is the estimated population of the Shompen tribe?
a) Between 100 and 400 individuals
b) Around 1,000 people
c) More than 10,000 people
d) Exact population unknown
Answer: a) Between 100 and 400 individuals - What risk does increased human contact pose to the Shompen tribe?
a) Economic instability
b) Cultural enrichment
c) Exposure to infectious diseases
d) Technological advancement
Answer: c) Exposure to infectious diseases - What justification does the government provide for the development project?
a) Preservation of indigenous culture
b) Economic growth and countering geopolitical influences
c) Protection of endangered species
d) Facilitation of scientific research
Answer: b) Economic growth and countering geopolitical influences