Is it not Time for the Andaman Authorities to Start Thinking Out of the Box?
(Report by Denis Giles)
Port Blair, Sept. 15: The eighteen-year-old Techa has cleared her NEET-UG. May not sound astonishing as many students clear it and a few score high to get into their desired stream of studies.
Soon after the news was flashed in the social media, a handful of social workers and scribes had rushed to a small shabby government quarter in Port Blair city where Techa lives with her brother Olake. Techa was felicitated and praised for her hard work and determination. Finally, it was worth an appreciation when the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS himself felicitated Techa in his chamber by offering a cheque worth Rs. 10,000/-. All this because, the seventeen-year-old girl belongs to a small community of an aboriginal tribe called the ‘Great Andamanese’ who are considered to be a lost case, because of their dwindling numbers.
Once estimated to be around 8000 when the British had arrived to occupy the Andaman Islands, these were the tribes who fought hard to defend their land and resources. But unfortunate, the bows and arrows of the tribe could not be a match to the guns and modern ammunition of the British. The tribe had to surrender and the saga of the ten different septs, collectively known as ‘The Great Andamanese’ began. Their population started falling rapidly because of the outside intervention (the British and later the Indian Government) resulting in a population of two figures, which includes a few born out of inter-marriage between the settlers and the members of the tribe.
Techa is one among the five siblings born out of Luke and Late Koba. The siblings include three brothers Olake, 26 (a Civil Engineer by qualification), Leynee, 23, Khijere, 21 followed by two girls Techa, 18 and Elay, 16. When Techa and her siblings were quite young, their mother Koba had passed away, rendering them motherless. This was the time when Shanti Devi the ex-wife of Luke and their first daughter Ruksana Begum came forward to assist the motherless children.
“We live like a family, though my Badi Mummy has separated from my father. During school vacations, we all visit Strait Island and spend our time there as a happy family”, said Techa when Andaman Chronicle tried to understand.
Shanti Devi had taken Techa to Habdipur in South Andaman after Koba’s demise where she did her primary schooling. Later she shifted to Port Mout School and continued till 5th Std. After this for four years Techa was sent to Vivekananda Kandriya Vidyalaya,, Ranchi Tekri till she completed her 10th Std. For her senior secondary education, Techa was made to join Girls Sr. Sec. School where she cleared her 12th Std. followed by clearing of NEET-UG.
The journey of achieving the feet by clearing NEET-UG wasn’t so easy as it appears. For a member of a community which has been living under the mercy of the Tribal Welfare Department, it was a great challenge that required utmost dedication and determination.
Narrating her story of cracking NEET-UG, Techa explains that when she was in 11th std. they were all shifted to Strait Island following the COVID-19 Pandemic. We had no internet, so unlike the students in Port Blair I was not able to study online. I did not have even notes to study. Based on a request made by the members of the tribe, the AAJVS (a unit of Tribal Welfare Department) had arranged for books but then, there was no one to teach her. “I could not learn much without a teacher in 11th Std.”, expressed Techa. The situation was such that I had lost all hopes, she expressed.
It was the next year when the pandemic was under control that Techa could continue her 12th Std. in a regular school. Olake her brother had helped her to pursue a one-month crash course in a private institute at Port Blair, which helped Techa crack the NEET-UG.
Techa is now determined to become a Cardiologist. She wishes to serve her community and the islanders as a Cardiologist. “Even if I am given an offer to shift to mainland India or settle abroad, I would deny the offer. Andaman and Strait Island is my home. I can never think of staying away from home and my family”, said Techa when asked if she would want to opt for a better career outside, as done in many cases by the islanders.
Olake, who was also present during the interview could not resist interrupting the conversation. Olake said, “I have done my Civil Engineering and my dream is to serve as an engineer”.
Soon after Olake completed his Engineering, he was offered a contractual job of ‘Janjati Sevak’ under the Tribal Welfare Department in the year 2018, which he continues.
On being asked the roles and responsibilities of ‘Janjati Sevak’, Olake did not have any concrete answer. All he could explain is that he is asked to be at G.B. Pant Hospital or at the AAJVS Office. “I go wherever I am told to go and do whatever I am asked to do”. When asked, if he had received any training before holding the post of ‘Jantati Sevak’, he had a clear answer. “NO”.
The youngest among the siblings, Elay has opted for Arts in 11th Std. She wishes to be a Lawyer but her family wants her be an IPS Officer. After a small discussion, Techa and Olake were of the conclusion that Elay can be an IPS Officer even after completing her Law Degree.
When asked about her studies and the facilities, Andaman Chronicle learnt that even after more than two months of joining 11th Std. Elay hasn’t received her books yet. She has been given two registers and two pens by the Tribal Welfare department and it was only couple of days ago that the department could arranged for her school uniform.
On this Techa and Olake explained that unlike earlier days, the purchase is done digitally. Everything has to be purchased through GEM Portal and that’s the reason for the delay, they have been told.
Today among the dwindling ‘Great Andamanese’ are Police Constable, an Engineer, a Nurse, a Doctor to be and a child who dreams to be a Lawyer. All these children have been proving from time and again that they have the calibre to compete with the so called civilized society of ours. They are the ones who have also proved that soon they will be in a position to decide their future, unlike the ‘Mercy Days’ when the Government had pitied on them and decided to preserve their community for good.
The question today is: Is it not high time for a ‘policy shift’ from ‘protecting and providing’ to ‘facilitating’ the members of the tribe in true means to be at par with the so called civilized world of ours?
Is it not time that ‘The Great Andamanese’ are given yet another opportunity to be Great again by being able to decide for their community and its future?
Is it not time for the Andaman Authorities to start thinking out of the box?