Jarawa Tribe

News: Considering the 16th census, experts believe that conducting a census among the six main indigenous tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will not be tough. This is because the Central Government has already made contact and is running several welfare measures for these tribes.

About Jarawa Tribe

• The Jarawa are an indigenous nomadic tribe living on the Andaman Islands in India.
• They are believed to have migrated from Africa nearly 50,000–60,000 years ago.
• The Jarawas are among the world’s oldest surviving tribal groups.
• The Jarawa tribe is recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• They reside primarily in regions of Middle and South Andaman Islands, areas known for their dense tropical forests, mangrove ecosystems, and unspoiled coastlines,
• They live in small groups of 40–50 people. The Jarawa build their shelters, called chhappas, within the forest and typically shift their location every few months.
• They maintain a largely egalitarian society, with no formal leadership or hierarchical structure.
• The Jarawas possess a rich cultural and historical heritage, with well-developed beliefs, customs, and their own unique language, Jarawa.
• They are also known for their skill in music and dance, which form an integral part of their cultural expression.
• They hunt wild pigs, turtles, and fish using bows and arrows and collect fruits, roots, tubers, and wild honey.
• They make their bows from chooi wood, which they collect from Baratang Island.
• There are about 400 Jarawa people today.